Now That School Holidays Are Over

It’s back to school again! Before you bring out the school gear; ensure that you and your child are fully prepared for the term/year ahead. As parents, what is expected of you? Here are tips to help you

Find out about your child’s school

Whether your child is returning to the same school or starting at a new one, it’s always a good idea to get information about   any changes at the school. Is there a new principal? Who are your child’s teachers? What’s going on with the curriculum? What tests will be administered to your child? You can call the school directly and speak with an administrator, or visit the school for information. You may also be able to check on a website or webpage for extra information.

Get your child into the back-to-school routin

During holidays, staying up late and sleeping in are the norm. According to wikihow, as school starts, children need to get back into a routine. By developing a bedtime routine, your child will be less resistant to the early morning wake-up calls urging them to get ready for school. In addition, have your child lay out his clothes before he go to bed. That will teach him to get organised and be prepared in case either of you is running late in the morning.

Play school with your child

 Use your strength in areas such as reading, writing, solving mathematics and your favourite subject; or what you have learnt in life. You can go over some of the basics with your child. Let it be in a room without distractions and this should be geared towards learning. Let the place be void of distractions such as video games, television e.t.c. You can do this for 30 minutes, two or three times a week. This is an excellent opportunity to see where your child needs help and to pass that information on to their teachers. School should be fun, let them enjoy every hour spent there.

Don’t forget to buy

1. Footwear

Comfort is key. Think of function too. Choose something sturdy and weather-friendly. They tend to play with straps so go for those strong strapped shoes.

2. Rain boots/coats

The rains are here and there is need to protect children with rain boots/coats. Luckily, you have lots of flattering colours to pick from. You would be surprised that they prefer raincoats to umbrellas.

3. Lunch pack

‘Please mummy, don’t allow them resume a new term with the same old lunch box.’ A child feels confident when he knows that ‘my food is in my lovely lunch box.’ Go for the multiple compartments to ensure that they have more than one diet option. One cute box could then serve for packing both lunch and breakfast.

4. School uniforms

You cannot afford them looking drab; so, get new uniforms. Some schools provide such but if you are shopping for it, ensure the measurement is updated so that the clothes don’t become a chore!

5. Backpacks

Shopping for backpacks could be very easy when you have the list of books for the term. There are multi functional backpacks and be sure your child would love them because they like spreading things around as well as collecting new items.

6. Cardigans

Rain can go away with a trendy wool cardigan. Choose a colour and fit that your child would be proud to wear around. But watch out for the fibres. Some cardigans are made from fabrics that have the tendency to itch the body. Test the fabric against your body to know if it irritates the skin.

7. Umbrellas

There are very colourful designs to choose from, especially those with cartoon characters. With such, they are happier and ready for school even if it rains cats and dogs.