Part of having a great holiday from school lies in knowing how to handle it when it ends. Many kids would like to see breaks from school stretch much further, and might not feel ready to give up their holiday freedom. Parents, too, might feel overwhelmed at everything they have to organise before school restarts. To help make the transition back into the school routine a bit easier, why not try our tips in this handy guide?
🎒 New year, new gear
After a few weeks in pyjamas and out of school uniform, you may not realise just how much your child has grown. Make sure you get your kids to try on old school uniforms and sports kits before the first day of the new school term. Plenty of kids have growth spurts. If you’re not careful, you may send them off on their first day back, with ill fitting skirts and trousers.
Comb through their wardrobe before school starts, get rid of the clothes you can no longer use, and get replacements.
📱 Get on the groups, and watch for those updates
Pretty much all schools now provide some kind of digital updates service, with regularly updated websites, emails and sometimes even social media. However, a lot of classes, parents and other groups take things a little further, with informal social media and messaging groups. Make sure you sign up for the school’s official updates, but also check around for WhatsApp or Facebook groups that could prove useful with more informal info and requests, just in case you need to check on homework or need a hand with a lift back from a school trip.
💳 Make pocket money work with school
A lot of the world has gone cashless, yet some have found it hard to make the jump with pocket money. NatWest Rooster Money’s Rooster Card* could help parents with kids 6-17 make that leap. The prepaid debit card is a great way to pay for buses or trains to and from school, and it works really well when covering lunch money. You can also enable your child to make little purchases to and from school, from snacks to stuff for food tech, which gives them a greater level of independence.
🛍️ Cover their needs, and get them to think about their wants
Aside from the essentials, plenty of kids like getting new gear, and will want to share their cool new trainers or games they got over the break with their classmates. However, some kids may come home after the first day back at school feeling like they need newer school equipment after seeing their friends’ – while you think that they don’t really need it. Take the opportunity to talk to them about wants and needs – you can use our tips here for more guidance.
😟 Deal with back-to-school blues
Kids can find going back to school a difficult and somewhat depressing time after the joy of a school break. It can be tough heading back after so much time away from the classroom, and getting back into a regular routine is daunting for many children. If your child feels worried or unhappy about returning to school, perhaps set aside some time to talk about it, and develop a back to school routine that can ease them back into regular life. You could even discuss their feelings with their teacher, to head off any oncoming trouble.
✏️ Get ready for homework and grades
A new term often means a new homework routine. If you want to lock in good grades, it might be wise to work out which days homework assignments are due, and where tests will fall in the year.
You can also use Rooster Money to incentivise kids to work towards grades by rewarding them via boosting their account, and can even help manage their time using the Chores feature to set aside time for them doing their homework.
You can find out more about grades and incentives in our school report piece.
✨ Give a little more freedom, and get them to take on a few more responsibilities
A new school term is a good time to review family routines more generally. If your child is beginning to walk to school on their own, then perhaps they’re ready to take short trips into town with their friends? And if they can be trusted to do that, then perhaps they can be trusted with a few more chores, such as grabbing ingredients for dinner?
A Rooster Card* could be a great way to give your children a sense of responsibility, and with the chores feature, you can get a bit more back in return for money, setting children up with jobs to do. Find out more about that chores feature here; and the Rooster Card here.
