Settling back into school

TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR CHILD TO RETURN TO SCHOOL  

There is no doubt that remote learning and social isolation has been a huge adjustment for all of us. With some of the restrictions being lifted and schools slowly beginning to reopen, the next challenge we will face is getting our children back to school.   

Being well prepared a few days in advance can make the transition back to school a lot easier for both parents/carers and children. Here are some tips for easing your children back into the school routine:     

1. Ease into the routine a few days early    

During remote learning, some students’ schedules have been a bit more relaxed and some are very much out of routine. This will be one of the things that may make the first few days back at school difficult. It can help to ease into routine by starting a few days early, so that everyone is already used to waking up on time and participating in some sort of school-related routine by the time school starts.    

Children are very sensitive to routines. If getting to sleep on time is a problem after too many late nights, you can try enforcing a ’No Electronics’ rule an hour before bedtime so everyone can wind down. It is also advised, by experts, that children do not have phones or devices in their rooms at night. Children can also use an alarm clock to take responsibility for their own mornings and evenings.    

2. Encourage children to set goals and take responsibility    

Encouraging children to set goals and take responsibility for their return to school is a great way to get them in the right frame of mind. Research shows that children who participate in setting learning goals are consistently more motivated and take their learning more seriously.    

3.  Engage with your child’s learning    

For many parents/carers, remote learning has provided a wonderful opportunity for them to be involved in their child’s learning more than ever and may have given them a greater understanding of the curriculum and school expectations.    

It is always a good idea to talk to your child about what they have been learning and, if you have concerns, to speak with your child’s Homeroom teacher, subject teacher or YLC as well. This will give you a chance to find out what you can do to support your child at home and aware of any specific areas on which they may need to work.    

4.  Ensure that you are organised    

Our advice to students is that the more organised they are, the easier their first back-to-school mornings will be. Take the time to plan your morning routine in advance. Work out what time you need to get up, what you will prepare for breakfast, what you will be taking for lunch and for snacks, laying out your uniform the night before and also ensuring that your bag is packed and ready the night before your school day.    

5. Have fun    

Look for ways to have fun with the return to school arrangements. Keep in mind that children are often quick to pick up on our attitudes to things, so try to speak positively about school and emphasise the positive aspects of school, such as their friends and teachers or the wonderful things they will have a chance to learn.    

6.  Seek support if needed    

We are aware that, for some students, a return to school cannot come quickly enough. Others might find the transition back to school more difficult. There may even be some resistance. Please communicate with us if you have any concerns and would like some support.    

As well as contacting your child’s Homeroom teacher or YLC, you can also contact the Wellbeing team at school, Jeremy, Kate and Sharna, for extra support. This can be done by contacting the Reception or by emailing wellbeing@tcc.vic.edu.au