The parents’ bumper back-to-school guide
‘Back to school’ is everywhere, and whether those words fill you with disappointment or relief, it always pays to be prepared. That’s why we’re here with our bumper guide to make the new term as easy as ABC!
Pre-term preparation
School can be wild, so make sure your little one takes some friends
Pictured: Animal Rubbers - £3.95 each
The school routine is hectic enough at the best of times, so try to do as much pre-term prep as possible. Start with the obligatory stationery shop (let’s face it, it’s actually pretty fun), and kit your kids out with pens, pencils and notebooks. Think you’ve forgotten something? Take a look at Netmums’ back to school checklist to make sure you’ve got it all covered.
Very small children are going to need a little extra help beyond the usual backpack and lunch box. “Check they can easily dress and undress themselves. Perhaps choose zippers over buttons or anything else fiddly,” recommends Tots100 in their tips for first-time students.
Of course, at any age your little treasures are probably going to lose things (even we still do that!), so personalise everything. For their clothes, think traditional sew-in labels, or go simple with a name stamp that works on fabric. For the rest of their stuff (lunch boxes, books, drinks bottles), just pop on a few stickers and they’ll always knows what’s theirs!
The first morning
They might be learning about rain, but they don’t have to stand in it - get them a brolly!
Pictured: Spaceboy Design Children’s Umbrella - £8.95
When that alarm rings, don’t we all dream of an easier morning routine? For A Mummy Too, sectioning off the morning works a treat: “7.15am-7.45am is breakfast and play time, 7.45am-8am is hair wrangling, and at 8am it’s shoes on. By sectioning the morning up this way, we all know where we stand, and we avoid (most) arguments and fuss”.
Of course, getting your kids out of bed can be the hardest job of all, so follow Care Magazine’s tips to get them up faster, including turning on some lights and opening the curtains. Once they’re up, it’s brekkie. Most of Dashing Dish’s 20 back to school breakfast recipes can be prepared beforehand to help you live that oh-so-true adage: a good day starts with a good breakfast.
Now all you need to do is zip up their backpacks, pop an umbrella in their hand (we are in Britain, after all) and send them on their way!
Lunchtime inspiration
Cheese sarnies are dull - try a bento box filled with tasty treats instead
Pictured: Sausage Dog Bento Box - £5.95
Don’t let your little ones get into a lunchtime rut this term. We have loads of fantastic alternative lunch ideas for kids that’ll make a change from the boring old sandwich and a packet of crisps (and they don’t all require you to spend hours cooking, either).
We know food isn’t always smooth sailing for nervous tums, so take a look at Cucina Bella’s ideas for fussy eaters, including rice, pasta and scrummy veggie dippers. If your child is still having a hard time eating at school, check out The Feeding Doctor’s fantastic advice for helping them eat: “Don’t ask him what he ate or rifle through his lunch box first thing. Pretend it doesn’t matter. Give him the message that he can manage his eating, even if he is still learning right now.”
Once you’ve found the food they want to scoff, put it in a brand spanking new kid's lunch box that they can be really proud of, and make lunchtime the highlight of their day!
Homework (for parents)
They’re not just pencils, they’re a way for your kids to express themselves!
Pictured: Rambling Rose Giant Pencil Colouring Set - £1.95
It’s not just your kids that get homework from school; there are things you can do too for a whole term of smooth sailing. Is the dreaded laundry filling your thoughts? Cheshire Mum knows just how to wash school uniforms so your kids will scrub up well every day. Money on your mind? Don’t fret, just follow Peachy’s tips for saving money during September, like bulk-buying bargains or having a back to school swap with other parents in your area.
Lastly, don’t just think about this term. Edspire will show you how to start preparing your child for big school: “Starting ‘great big school’ with friends will make the process a little easier. If they are going with someone from their primary school class then I would try to maintain contact with the family and arrange for the children to meet up.”
She also recommends encouraging independence and creativity at home, so grab some paper and colouring pencils and let their imaginations run wild! We all know just a little encouragement can make a huge difference to your kids.