5 Essential Back-to-School Tips for Every Parent
Aug 8, 2017
It’s time for your child to begin their new term in school again! Being concerned parents, preparing your child for their first day of school can be an exciting or nerve-wrecking experience. Your child might be feeling anxious about starting out their first day of school. While others, just need to get a hang of it all after relaxing during the school holiday. To ensure a smooth transition from time-offs to textbook, we have top tips to put those back-to-school jitters at ease.
1. Encourage your child to set personal goals
How do we get our child pumped up about their first day of school? Begin by visualising a great start and encouraging your child to set their personal goals. Whether they’re aiming for better grades in their next exam or participating in an after-school activity, every learner has their own passion and personal goals to pursue. At Nexus, we believe in setting personal goals that enrich their development within the school environment. As part of the International Primary Curriculum, The Nexus Neuron is developed to highlight effective personal goals such as becoming a flexible thinker, a resilient learner, an effective communicator, a rigorous student and more.
2. Reflect on past projects and homework
The fastest way to get into the groove of learning is to flip the pages of last term’s lessons and review past homework. Not only will it help to recall important pointers or chapters they learned prior to the school holidays, it can also improve their memory and learning skills. Reflecting on previous projects or homework improvements are also great ways to start. So does reading the last few chapters from their favourite subjects in school.
3. Compile a back-to-school checklist
As parents, we have thousands of thoughts and concerns playing in our heads. Creating a back-to-school checklist is a good way to stay organised and keep things on track. While you’re at it, get your child involved in shopping for back-to-school items such as new school supplies, stationery, and books. Ticking off the checklist will also get your child excited for the new term ahead.
4. Practice separation to manage anxiety
If your child will be enrolling on their first day in Early Years, there’s a chance that he or she will face separation anxiety. For parents who can foresee it coming, it’s important that you gradually ease the idea that you won’t be accompanying them during their hours in school. Start by sending your child for a weekend sleepover with their grandparents. Alternatively, you can arrange for a playdate with a neighbour’s kid who will be enrolling in the same class as them. Having a familiar face in an unfamiliar environment will calm down their first-day jitters.
5. Take a day at a time
Take a deep breath and exhale. Regardless of the experience you’ll be facing on your child’s first day of school, it’s essential to know that time will help your child to get into the rhythm of things. You will face different ups and downs during the first week of a new term. However, once they start learning a subject they love or making new friends, your child will realise that a school is a great place after all.
1. Encourage your child to set personal goals
How do we get our child pumped up about their first day of school? Begin by visualising a great start and encouraging your child to set their personal goals. Whether they’re aiming for better grades in their next exam or participating in an after-school activity, every learner has their own passion and personal goals to pursue. At Nexus, we believe in setting personal goals that enrich their development within the school environment. As part of the International Primary Curriculum, The Nexus Neuron is developed to highlight effective personal goals such as becoming a flexible thinker, a resilient learner, an effective communicator, a rigorous student and more.
2. Reflect on past projects and homework
The fastest way to get into the groove of learning is to flip the pages of last term’s lessons and review past homework. Not only will it help to recall important pointers or chapters they learned prior to the school holidays, it can also improve their memory and learning skills. Reflecting on previous projects or homework improvements are also great ways to start. So does reading the last few chapters from their favourite subjects in school.
3. Compile a back-to-school checklist
As parents, we have thousands of thoughts and concerns playing in our heads. Creating a back-to-school checklist is a good way to stay organised and keep things on track. While you’re at it, get your child involved in shopping for back-to-school items such as new school supplies, stationery, and books. Ticking off the checklist will also get your child excited for the new term ahead.
4. Practice separation to manage anxiety
If your child will be enrolling on their first day in Early Years, there’s a chance that he or she will face separation anxiety. For parents who can foresee it coming, it’s important that you gradually ease the idea that you won’t be accompanying them during their hours in school. Start by sending your child for a weekend sleepover with their grandparents. Alternatively, you can arrange for a playdate with a neighbour’s kid who will be enrolling in the same class as them. Having a familiar face in an unfamiliar environment will calm down their first-day jitters.
5. Take a day at a time
Take a deep breath and exhale. Regardless of the experience you’ll be facing on your child’s first day of school, it’s essential to know that time will help your child to get into the rhythm of things. You will face different ups and downs during the first week of a new term. However, once they start learning a subject they love or making new friends, your child will realise that a school is a great place after all.
