How to Get the School Year off to a Winning Start With Your Kids

As the summer holidays draw to a close and a new school year begins, it’s an excellent time to get organised and ready for school. Whether it’s preparing daily meal plans for the new term, stocking up on any back-to-school uniform, or creating a weekly planner – the end of summer signals a return to the school routine.

Stock up on extra school uniform and household essentials

While you might have already bought your kids’ school uniform and shiny shoes for the new term, there may be some essentials you didn’t consider. Sometimes, a new uniform doesn’t always fit correctly or isn’t as suitable as you might have hoped, so allow some time to change purchases or buy new goods. Investing in a few extra items (even in a few sizes up!), will mean you’re not constantly washing, ironing or shopping to replace clothes once the new term really gets going.

Whatever the rules around wearing a school uniform are, constantly having to fork out for new uniforms and shoes can be a costly business. At a time when people are tightening their belts financially, it is worth talking to your kids about taking care of their items. Try to encourage your children to avoid losing clothes (or sharing them too much!), and remind them gently not to leave clothes in the school corridors.

Your children’s new uniform needs to fit well and be appropriate for the weather conditions at this time of year. Make sure they have a good pair of shoes for school and that these are comfortable and in good condition with no holes or scuffs. The same rules apply to school ties and bags. During the first weeks of school, inspect for damage checking that:

• Straps are in good repair. Loose straps can be dangerous.
• There are no holes or tears in clothing and stains (from food or drink), fading and fraying around the edges of garments.
• Zips are working correctly; if they don’t work, it might be worth replacing them with new ones.

Personalise your kids’ possessions

At the start of a new school term (especially after you’ve invested in all their uniforms and belongings), it is a good idea to organise your kids’ possessions. It is worth labelling new items in case they do go missing which is often the case whatever age your children are. Labelling can be a great way to teach kids about ownership and responsibility. Drawing and creating labels can also be a fun activity that you can enjoy together.

You could even turn this ‘organising time’ into an extended activity – why not use this as an opportunity for your children to help you sort through their other stuff? They might find it fun, and it could be a nice bonding experience and become a meaningful lesson in donating kid’s stuff to charity.

Invest in children’s activities

If your child participates in any activities, it’s worth buying the right equipment. For example, if they’re joining the school choir or orchestra and you want to buy them an instrument, consider exactly what size or type of instrument is needed.

Alternatively, if they’re taking part in their first football tournament and don’t have all the right kit yet, then now is a good time to get it done. You’ll also want to ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for any special occasions or events coming up at school or outside the classroom.

Finally, let’s not forget those fun activities that have nothing to do with school but are great fun nonetheless: swimming lessons, after-school activities, or out-of-school sports teams. It can sometimes take months before these opportunities present themselves again, so don’t miss out on them!

Schedule appointments with a calendar or app

Once your children have enrolled in their favourite activities or sport clubs, calendars, wall charts and school diaries are a great way to stay organised. Plan any day-to-day school activities, key appointments (such as ‘meet the teacher’ events) and keep track of important medical check-ups. You can also create a checklist of everything that needs doing and keep a list on your phone or download a dedicated reminder app so you won’t forget key dental checkups, doctor’s appointments, sports events etc.

Making a chart can also help children feel more responsible for their actions and ensure they don’t forget any important tasks, especially during high-stress periods like exams or sports days! Book in any doctor or dentist appointments that your children may need, and the same thing goes for yourself too especially if you are an expectant mum with scans, routine check-ups or dental issues related to pregnancy.

Focus on your children’s new friends

In the summer holidays, your children might have had endless free time on their hands to spend with their friends. And, while that was great for them, now they’re back in a school routine, it can be tricky to get them motivated for school. However, while it’s important for children to join extra-curricular clubs and after-school activities, it’s still good for them to enjoy some quality time with their friends away from school. Here are three ideas:

• Focus on the friends of your children that matter to them the most. If there’s a friend who is especially important to your child, try making some extra effort to make sure they get together during the school week or at the weekend. You could even arrange for them to have a sleepover at your house!
• Make time for them to see their friends. If they don’t have any plans yet, ask them what they’d like to do with their free time – and then schedule it into your calendar.
• Encourage them to get involved in activities that involve their friends. If there are sports teams or clubs at school, encourage them to sign up with their friends.

Once your kids are settled back into school life and you’re feeling organised, don’t forget to take some time out for yourself! Getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of school runs, after-school clubs and sports teams is easy, but making time for yourself is essential too. So, with the school year gearing up, there’s still time to get organised and make sure the new term gets off to a winning start.