So, just about now the phrase “Back to school” starts popping up everywhere. It usually gets a mixed reaction – for frazzled parents and grandparents it offers a glimmer of hope, though kids generally are less enthusiastic. Most of us enjoy the routine that the return to school offers after the chaos of trying to fit everything in over the summer break, but getting back into that routine takes a bit of planning. Planning has to be one of the key skills in parenting, planning for the expected, the unexpected and ensuring a “Plan B” is in place and ready to go. The summer’s great but can disrupt our normal routines, so whether the kids like it or not, there is an almost audible sigh of relief to be heard across the UK come September. Here are a few tips to make the transition from domestic chaos to domestic routine as smooth as possible.
Back to basics
Most of us let evening and morning routines lapse a little during the summer break – and rightly so. You are only young once, and once they’ve left school it’ll be fifty odd years before they get chance to lie in on a weekday, so cutting a little or a lot of slack over the summer is nothing to frown upon. However, as September rapidly approaches a return to the working week mentality is called for. Don’t leave this till day one of the new school term – it won’t work. Depending on the age of your kids a week or two beforehand is a good time to re-introduce bedtime and your normal morning routine. Build up gradually and remind them why you’re doing it.
Technology temptations
Whether you like it or not, TV, the internet and computer games will no doubt have become part of your kid’s daily routine over the last few weeks. Cutting this daily dose back to a more realistic level is no mean feat, but it’s important. Involve the kids in some of the preparation for the school term; one way is to set up a desk – or overhaul one – for homework. Spend a bit of time on re-stocking with pens, notebooks and the like and preparing an area for them to work in. This can re-focus them on the reality of school and prepare them for getting back into the homework routine.
Streamlining your routine
The chances are that over the summer you’ve also had a bit of extra time on your hands, to catch up on domestic chores. Back to school for parents can also mean back to work; which in turn means less time in the day to nip to the shops when you’ve run out of a pint of milk, teabags or dairy products. You’ll probably need to consider streamlining your own routine and if you are a keen provider of packed lunches you’ll need to factor in some easy ways to keep the cupboards stocked. If you’ve had the time over the summer to shop for real now is the time to consider some online solutions. Apart from the obvious online grocery shopping services offered by the supermarkets, shop around online to see what other services are available in your area. One surprising source may be your local milkman – they often offer a range of other daily essentials, dropped off first thing with no delivery charges. A real time saver if you are in one of the areas they deliver to.
Calm approaches
Not all kids are as keen as others when it comes to the idea of back to school. Some will look forward to it, but others may find it daunting – especially those changing schools or classes. Chatting about the subject can help to encourage them and highlight any issues. The best approach is to talk positively about school and work it into everyday conversations. A lot of kids won’t have seen as much of some of their schoolmates over the summer as they would in the school year – so try and organise a day to meet up with old acquaintances which can offer the more reluctant a reason to look forward to school. Getting back into your normal daily routines, finding some shortcuts for yourself and getting the kids ‘mentally’ prepared can make the transition from the summer holidays to schooldays smooth, stress-free and straightforward: good luck!