After six, hectic (to say the least) months, the kids are finally back at school! Naturally, many kids will be nervous and apprehensive as they become accustom to their new routine, especially with new regulations in place on social distancing and the like. However, the return to school means kids and their parents can finally feel a sense of normality again.
As kids settle into a regular routine once again, they will be comforted by feeling of security that structure brings.
To make their first week back a little more smooth sailing, and even a little bit exciting, we have gathered five helpful tips:
1. Make a Fun Breakfast
A great morning will set the tone for the rest of their day, so why not put a smile on their face and fill their tummy at the same time with a fun breakfast? This doesn’t have to be elaborate, expensive or even take up much of your time to prepare. You can make a mundane meal more exciting, simply by changing the way it’s presented. Instead of giving them their usual toast with butter, use a cookie cutter to cut the bread into fun shapes. If it’s cereal they prefer, serve it with a novelty straw for them to slurp their milk up with. The more creative you are, the more likely they will be to try new foods too. Why not try frying their eggs into a shaped mould, or creating a fruit smiley face on their pancakes? If you’re really pressed for time, simply pop a cocktail parasol in their morning orange juice for a small surprise that they’ll love!
2. Create an After School Station
Does your child immediately throw off their shoes, coat and bag the minute they walk through the door? If so, they may benefit from an ‘after school station’ a.k.a a home for all their school related belongings. A simple coat hook with a storage box underneath will do! Encourage them to take off their shoes, school bag and coat and tidy them away when they come in from school. In addition, have a letter sorter or some sort of filing system in place where they can add their homework along with any letters from school. This will help keep both you and your child organised and prevent hectic mornings looking for lost shoes and misplaced homework!
3. Make Homework Time Stress Free
To help them keep on top of homework and after school projects, have a quiet, tidy space ready for them equipped with any learning materials they need such as pencils, paper and books. Carve out just half an hour each evening to check over their work with them and help them with any questions they may have. Let them know when it’s time to put away electronics and concentrate on their work.
4. Use a Reward Chart
Reward charts are a great way to encourage children to take on small responsibilities. This can be especially helpful on busy school mornings, where small tasks like brushing teeth and getting dressed without help can make mornings run much more smoothly. List a set of tasks that need to be completed each school morning and school evening and reward them with a sticker for each one. At the end of the week, if they have collected enough stickers, give them an even bigger reward. Again, this does not have to be expensive or even cost any money at all: a trip to the park or being allowed to stay up past bedtime are both great rewards and completely free. Rewardcharts4kids.com has a wide range of free reward chart printables with a wide range of themes.
5. Establish a Bedtime Routine
A great day starts with a good night’s rest, and a good night’s rest is far easier to achieve with a calming bedtime routine. Let your kids know when it’s time to get ready for bed with a warm bubble bath and a story. It may be harder to get them to bed after months of no school, so don’t worry if they don’t go down easily their first week back.
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