Going back to school takes some acclimatisation. Not only for you as a parent but for your children too. I know that I need to cut them some slack and make sure that we are all a little gentler on each other.
It is understandable that after six weeks off school with much more freedom and less routine that they are going to find the return to school a challenge, but the fact is that whilst they are at school they are good and make sure that they do their best, it is at home that it all starts to unravel!
5 Tips for helping your kids to acclimatise to back to school
Food is everything!
No really, it is key to give your kids a good protein based breakfast as they can not snack as they can during the holidays. So making sure they get the best start ot the day is essential. I also find that the boys return home from school ravenous, so I ensure that they have a good balanced afterschool snack waiting for them which keeps them full till dinner time.
Keep hydrated
I am not around to remind and ensure that the boys have lots to drink whilst they are at school. I make sure that they get a good drink once they come home and send them to school with their new water bottles filled with cold water.
Don’t overschedule
Make sure that you don;t over schedule activities for the first couple of weeks back at school. Kids will be tired after a day at school and it is essential that they unwind. My boys don;t have many after school activities anyway, but for the first couple of weeks I make sure that they do not have to go.
Plan quiet activities
I know that my boys will be tired and this often means that they are tetchy with each other, so I make sure that I plan activities to keep then occupied, but not over stimulated. I love invitations to create and I am also a little more relaxed with regards to TV time.
Go outside
After being in a classroom all day the boys need their exercise and to get outside. It is essential to their wellbeing and to mine too. I make sure we go to the park, beach and walk the dog so that they can get out some of their energy.
Sleep is essential
Children need a good nights sleep and it is one of the things that I am really strict about. The guidelines for the amount of sleep is:
- 4 years 11.5 hours
- 5 years 11 hours
- 6 years 10.75 hours
- 7 years 10.5 hours
- 8 years 10.25 hours
- 9 years 10 hours
- 10 years 9.75 hours
- 11 years 9.5 hours
- 12 years 9.25 hours
- 13 years 9.25 hours
- 14 years 9 hours
- 15 years 8.75 hours
- 16 years 8.5 hours
How do you help your kids during this first couple of weeks?
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