Wellbeing Resources

Welcome back to Term three!  The holidays are a thing of the past and we are all trying to get back into routine.  If you or your children struggle to readjust into the routine of school you might like to look over the following tips for some inspiration.

Getting back into school routines

Talk about school - Kids can get stressed just like adults, and just like adults they learn to hide or bury their anxieties.  Going back to school can be very stressful for some students.  Whether it is nervousness about school work, stress over encountering others they don’t get along with or some other reason, kids may have some feelings of stress they are not sharing.  Reach out and get them talking.  Be interested and spend time asking about schoolwork, friends etc.

Get a good night's sleep - Sleeping habits are often the first thing altered during holidays.  Kids sleep in and stay up late.  Getting back onto an appropriate sleep schedule is one of the biggest adjustments to go back to school.

Connect with your child - Aim for screen free time an hour before bed.  Not only does this time help calm the brain ready for sleep, it is also a great time to connect with your child and talk about your days, enjoy a board game together, or read together.  Instead of asking “how was school” ask “who did you play with today?” to get the conversation going.

Organise the night before - Mornings can be rushed creating more stress than needed.  Have the kids make their lunch box up the night before, have clothes out ready to go and bags packed with things they need.  As well as helping reduce stress, having the children help get themselves organised teaches them valuable life skills of organisation and taking responsibility for their own belongings.

As an adult it is easy to forget how stressful school life can be for some children.  Help reduce the stress for your children by being prepared, getting back into school sleep routines and talking about feelings of anxiety. 

If you need a chat or some ideas of what to do with the kids, please reach out…I am only too happy to make time for you.

If there is a particular topic of interest that you would like to know about or if you have any questions please feel free to email me at mmakin@smechuca.catholic.edu.au

Take care and stay safe 

Michelle

School Social Worker