From packing schoolbags the night before to getting your morning routine sorted, get back-to-school ready
This article is sponsored by Aquafresh, Lyclear & Calpol.
The summer holidays are drawing to a close and getting back into the school routine is on every parent’s mind. Whether your little one is going off to school for the first time, or you’re a dab hand at the back-to-school routine, we talk you through our eight top tips for helping those first few weeks go as smoothly as possible.
1. Offer reassurance
As you get closer to the big day, it’s natural that some children might feel apprehensive about going back to school. This might be down to early mornings, getting stuck back into homework, or just those first day back nerves. Whatever the reason, reassure them that it’s completely normal to feel like this, and remind them of the things they do love: seeing their friends again, after school clubs or even using their new stationery.
2. Start the early bedtimes
A week before going back to school, get into the habit of early bedtimes. This gives you chance to iron out any niggles and to deal with reluctance to go to bed in advance, rather than having a fraught first morning back. Try introducing a wind down routine in the evening they can look forwards to. For younger children, this could be bath time, followed by snuggly pyjamas, hot milk and a bedtime story. For older children, avoid TV or phones for at least an hour before bed, and encourage them to do something to help them wind down, like reading their favourite book.
3. Pack school bags the night before
The last thing you want is to be running around first thing in the morning packing everything they need into their school bag. Get everything ready the night before, including their PE kit and any other essentials. If they take a packed lunch, you can prepare that the night before too, so in the morning it’s ready to just slot into their backpack. A nice way to help your child to feel included is to get them to help with packing - they feel more involved, and you get things done quicker!
4. Practise your morning routine
Getting up at the same time as you would for school for a few days before they go back to school gives you chance to nail that morning routine. As well as breakfast, face washing and donning those cute little uniforms, getting your tooth brushing routine spot on is really important. The enamel of milk teeth is up to 50% thinner than adult teeth, so special protection is needed to keep kid’s smiles sparkling.
Aquafresh Little Teeth toothpaste is a triple protection, low abrasion formula that’s specially designed by dental experts for children aged three to five years. With 24-hour sugar acid protection provided by active fluoride, it helps keep teeth strong, healthy and protected against sugar acid attack throughout the day.*
5. Encourage play
Remind them that one of the best things about going back to school is the chance to play with their friends every day. You could even encourage active or imaginative games in breaktimes!
One challenge you might face when they’re back together every day is headlice. Lyclear Extra Strong Treat & Protect Shampoo has been clinically proven to be up to 100% effective against head lice and eggs in 10 minutes and helps protect from possible reinfestations.** The formula works to dehydrate and suffocate lice and eggs, and this mechanical action means lice are less likely to develop a resistance to the treatment.
6. Make time for homework
Try to make a little time for homework each day (or reading, if they don’t have any homewprk, rather than letting it all build up. This helps you both to stay on top of it, rather than having a last-minute rush the night before. You could even start to build up to this routine before the first day back. Try planning in five to 10 minutes a day where you do a few basic spellings or sums, to make it a really comfortable habit by the time they start back.
7. Take it easy
Remember that going back to school takes a lot of energy for your little one. All that learning and playing can take it out of them for the first few weeks, especially if it’s their first year. Make sure they have plenty of down time once the school day is done and think about keeping weekend plans nice and relaxed during those early weeks.
8. Don’t aim for perfection
Heading back to school is hard work for kids and grown-ups a-like. It takes a while to settle back into things, so it’s normal to encounter some challenges along the way.
Being back in a school environment can also mean more chance of catching colds or other bugs. If your little one is suffering from a fever, CALPOL® Sugar Free Infant Suspension may help provide some relief. It gets to work on fevers in 15 minutes, whilst being delicate on little tummies. It provides relief from pain and fever, and comes in a strawberry flavour.
*Follow a healthy diet and brush twice-daily as protection may decrease between brushing
** Lyclear Extra Strong Treat & Protect Shampoo helps to avoid reinfestation for up to 72 hours. LPF protection and pediculicidal activity was demonstrated by ex vivo data.
^ Contains paracetamol, always read the label.
CALPOL® Sugar Free Infant Suspension for infants 2 months + (weighing over 4kg & not premature). Contains paracetamol. For pain and fever. Always read the label. UK-CAR-2200136
