This article was written prior to 15 March 2021, before the launch of the new Financial Advice Regime, and was published for information purposes only. It is not being actively promoted by Dollar Insurance. Dollar Insurance does not provide financial advice about the suitability of their products and cannot take into account your personal situation or goals. Before you decide to take out a Dollar Insurance Policy, you should read the relevant Policy Wording document which contains the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the Policy, and seek independent financial advice, if required, to ensure the insurance policy is suitable for you.

It’s that time of year again. Time to swap swimmers for uniforms and send the kids back to school. Maybe you’re excited to get some time to yourself; maybe you’re dreading the early morning rush. However you might feel, it’s happening—so why not try to make things as easy as possible?

Whether your students are starting kindy or year 12, there are plenty of ways to help this school year be their best ever!

Here are 13 tips to help make going back to school easier:

1. Start following bedtimes before the holidays end…

It’s time to say goodbye to late nights and morning lie ins. *sad face* The sooner you start enforcing school bed and wake times the better. Everyone’s body takes time to reset, so getting back into a normal bedtime routine can help the whole family. This also means skipping afternoon naps for kids who won’t be getting one in the classroom.

2. …And ban screens 1 hour before bed.

TV, laptops, smartphones, tablets and handheld video games all give off what’s known as blue light. This light tricks the brain into thinking it’s earlier than it really is, and usually makes it harder to fall asleep at night. Get your kids to turn off their screens at least 1 hour before bedtime. Read a book, quietly listen to music or take a relaxing bath to wind down instead. (This is good advice for parents, too!)

3. Visit a new school or classroom

A lot of kids and teens get “first day of school” nerves. Visiting a new school or exploring their current one could help. Practice walking from the entrance to their classroom. Find the nearest toilets and water fountains. Walk past the head office and library. Getting the lay of the land might give your students more confidence on day one.

4. Meet your child’s teachers…

If you can, get to know your kid’s teachers before the school year starts. It will be good for your student to recognise a friendly face on the first day. It also gives you a chance to learn a bit more about their teaching style and bring up any concerns you might have. 

5. …And their new classmates!

Why not host a causal gettogether for the kids and grownups at the beginning of the school year? Use this time to organise a carpool, future playdates or make a new friend! If your kids have been at the same school for a while, it might be nice to reach out to new families who are just starting this year.

6. Do a supply stocktake.

Don’t head to the shops with that supply list just yet! You might be able to save money by doing some back-to-school shopping at home. Search the house for pens, pencils, and notebooks left over from last year. Items that are still in good nick—think backpacks, lunchboxes, pencil cases and binders—can also be reused. You might even be able to build a “new” set of crayons or coloured pencils by combining half-used boxes. 

7. Organise a uniform swap day with other parents.

Remember that gettogether we mentioned in tip #5? That could also be a good time for parents to swap uniform bits and pieces that their kids have outgrown. Know any parents with kids who have changed or finished school? Ask them for any uniforms, hats, shoes or sports gear they won’t be needing anymore. 

8. Practice with snaps, buttons, lids, zippers and more.

Before sending them to school, have your kids test their supplies. Zip up their backpack, open and close containers, fasten buttons and tie shoes. Maybe the lunch box you picked is too hard for little fingers to open and close, or your teen needs to practice their necktie skills. Best to find this out early, so you can get replacements or give the kids plenty of time to practice!

9. Practice the route to school…

Is your student walking, biking or catching the bus on their own for the first time? Don’t assume they know the way, even if they’ve gone to the same school for years. The neighbourhood can look different when you’re by yourself! Practice the way to school—and home—a few times before the school term starts.

10. And have a ‘plan b’ just in case.

Sometimes kids miss the bus, or lose their keys, or just feel unsafe on their way to and from school. Make a plan to deal with these unexpected events so they don’t take everyone by surprise. Have a family member on standby to drive them. Give a spare house key to the neighbour. Teach your kids how and when to call emergency services. They’ll hopefully never need it, but it’s always nice to have a plan b.

11. Set up a homework area before classes start.

Bad study habits can be hard to break. Get your students on the right track their first week back by creating a homework area. Pick a quiet spot away from distractions, and stock it with extra school supplies.

12. Stock the kitchen with healthy after school snacks.

You might have gotten lax with the rules over summer, but it’s probably time to swap crisps and biscuits for fruit and vege. Keep healthier snack options on hand for afternoon tea—whole fruits, carrot sticks and hummus, cheese and crackers. These are all excellent brain foods!

13. Prep as much as you can the night before.

No one likes rushing around in the morning. Do as much as you can in the evenings for a calmer morning routine. Make lunches after dinner, find misplaced items, pack backpacks and iron and lay out tomorrow’s clothes. Remember—the kids can help with a lot of this, too!

About the author: Dollar Insurance is all about making insurance as painless as possible, with easy to get funeral cover, for just $1 a day.  

 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs and seek independent financial advice, if required, to ensure an insurance product is suitable for you.

Any product information is correct at the time this article was published. For current product information, please visit the Dollar Insurance website.