Six ways parents could make the return to school a little easier

The new academic term is upon us once more, and households are preparing for the shift from leisurely summer mornings to structured school days, navigating any initial anxieties, and preparing for the upcoming year.

While pupils in Scotland commenced their school year in mid-August, children across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are scheduled to return during the upcoming week, as September begins.

Our team consulted experts to gather their six essential tips for facilitating the smoothest possible return to school.

According to teacher and blogger Cerys Parker, maintaining a consistent morning schedule is among the most effective strategies for staying organized throughout the school year.

Her day commences half an hour before her children awaken, allowing her some personal time and an opportunity to enjoy a warm beverage.

Following this, she prepares an identical breakfast daily for them, which they consume together without any electronic devices, before heading upstairs for showers and to get ready for school.

She then collects their lunchboxes, and they depart the house at 7:30 AM for the bus, or at 7:50 AM if Parker is driving them to school on her way to work.

The evening prior, she ensures that school bags are packed, footwear is arranged, uniforms are laid out, and lunches are prepared for the next morning.

Parker explained that by keeping items in designated spots, such as bags and keys always in the same location, the morning routine becomes more fluid, eliminating any stress about finding things.

It is easy to overlook important dates like non-uniform days, sports events, or study sessions. Parker advises displaying a family calendar on a wall or refrigerator, somewhere it is easily visible each day.

She noted that she uses an academic year calendar with sections for each family member and an events area, where she immediately records any new notices.

This calendar can also be used for scheduling items such as meal plans, extracurricular activities, or, depending on the child's age, exam dates.

Furthermore, she maintains a small coin purse throughout the year to ensure her children have change available for occasions like non-uniform days or bake sales.

Many children are exhausted after school and may not be keen to discuss their day, so Will Shield, a professor of child and educational psychology at the University of Exeter, suggests adapting how these conversations are approached.

He recommended asking open-ended questions instead of pressuring them, such as inquiring about what made them smile that day or who they played with during lunchtime.

He clarified that these types of questions are much simpler for a child to answer than asking them directly what they did.

Parker offered similar suggestions, like asking: "What was the most amusing thing that happened, or what made you laugh today?"

For younger children, clinical psychologist Dr. Martha Deiros Collado advised CBeebies Parenting Download that the time of pick-up should not be a source of stress.