Written by:
Tania Anway, Principal of Brightwaters Christian College
Back to school promotions are in full swing, pre-ordered uniforms are arriving and your kids are begging for a new lunchbox. It must be the end of January!
Congratulations, parents, on making it this far into summer. With school starting within the next fortnight in some states and territories (and school already underway this week in other parts of Australia), it’s important to begin thinking about transitioning your kids (and you!) back to school.
Whether a student in your household is starting “big school”, tackling the pressure of Year 12 or anywhere in between, moving from a relaxed summer schedule back to school can be a difficult changeover.
Regardless of your student’s age or grade level, now is a good time to look at your daily routine. Has bedtime slipped a little later? If so, begin pulling it back to an appropriate time for the start of school. Be sure the morning wake-up time follows suit.
To ease the load for everyone in the morning and give younger children autonomy, have them dress themselves for school for a few days before the start of school. This is especially helpful if they have swimming first term! Be sure they can put on and take off their uniform themself.
Review safety with your student – how to be safe getting to and from school, especially for older primary children and above who may be making their own way; and how to stay safe in the classroom, especially for younger children who might not know how to carry scissors or to avoid running with pencils and other objects that may be sharp.
Be sure your children know who their emergency contacts are should a parent be unable to pick them up in an unforeseen situation.
Consider an early dinner for the first few weeks of school. Students can be very tired at the start of the first term. It’s often still very warm outside, and students are experiencing an increase in mental (and physical) load. Some children will need a much earlier bedtime for a short period.
Remind your child that it’s okay to be nervous about the first day of school. Teachers know that students may be nervous and will make an extra effort to ensure everyone feels as comfortable as possible. If your child seems nervous, ask them what they are worried about and talk through solutions.
Teachers have spent the last several weeks preparing for the return to school and are just as eager for success.
Wishing your family a happy and healthy start to the 2025 school year!
