Top Tips for Supporting the Return to School - Dandelion Training & Development

As the world prepares for the return to school, parents up and down the country are getting the uniforms ready, purchasing new school shoes and packing lunch boxes…. But what else do we need to consider to prepare our children for a successful return to school?

Get organised

Double check school lists and requirements
Make a shopping list and do it in one hit to reduce stress
Wash uniform a few times to soften it up
Plan a packed lunch menu so prepping is simple
Practice putting uniform on and moving around to adjust
Practice the walk to school to open conversation
Prep everything you can the night before so the morning is less stressful

Get consistent

Start getting up earlier in the week leading up to school to lessen the shock
Start going to bed at ‘school times’ to adjust body clocks
Create a morning ‘school’ routine and display it for everyone
Plan a time for homework and reading so it’s done consistently
Adjust mealtimes at home to be similar to school times

Get real

Take it a day at a time
Focus on the things you can control and plan for
Check your understanding and questions with the school
Role model positivity and optimism (children follow our lead)
Keep chaos at bay – Consistency and planning offer calm
Celebrate the achievements
Avoid avoidance – it increases anxiety
Accept that there will be lots of emotions – plan some downtime and calm activities to counter balance it

Get talking

Share books about school to open conversation
Talk about what we are looking forward to about school
Answer any questions that arise about school
Look at pictures online of school and talk about what we will be doing
Listen carefully to what your child is saying to you (verbally or through behaviour)
Don’t ignore the worries – give time to talk or draw about them and help them look for simple solutions
Praise the achievements (even if they are small) to build confidence
Check any concerns your child raises with your child’s teacher to check interpretation and understanding

Download our free eBook to Support School Transitions – HERE

Further help

For more articles about mental health visit – ARTICLES

To learn more about child and adolescent mental health visit – COURSES

For resources to support child and adolescent mental health visit –RESOURCES