It’s time to curb this common mistake, says parenting expert Kirsty Ketley. With the new academic year in full swing, she reveals how to make it the best one yet – and keep little ones safe to boot
Children up and down the country are now back at school in their new classes after summer. And if it’s been stressful bundling them back into class, don’t panic, because help is at hand. Here parenting expert Kirsty Ketley shares her top tips for a seamless school – and some of them may surprise you…
ONLINE SAFETY
You may want to post about your child’s new school year on social media, but when doing so make sure to keep your child safe. Remember if you are posting pics online, to cover school badges, ideally their face, don’t show house numbers or names, don’t reveal street names and turn off geotagging. Make sure family members ask permission before sharing and also that your child is happy to be shared online. To be very honest, I think it should be a thing of the past and not done anymore.
HIDE NAMES
Keep names on the inside of school bags too, not the outside, so they’re not easily identified by strangers. To help them easily identify their bag, use a fun key ring instead.
LABEL EVERYTHING…
Even socks! This will help prevent stuff getting lost, or your child’s belongings going home in a friend’s school bags. And while labels do look lovely, a Sharpie or laundry marker is a much cheaper alternative to stick on/iron on/sew on name labels, and just as effective.
SHOES TOO!
For shoes, cut a sticker in half and put the left side in the left shoe and the right side in the right shoe. This will ease anxiety, especially post-PE, as it will ensure kids easily identify their shoes, and help with putting on the correct feet.
CHECKLIST
To help them remember to bring home their school jumper – write them a checklist that stays in their bag! Jumper, reading book/record, lunchbox, water bottle.
EMAIL ADDRESS
Are you someone who misses key school intel and dates? Why don’t you try having an email address for school only to keep on top of school admin? Check it before school, around lunch and after school, so you don’t miss any important reminders. Make a note of anything crucial as soon as you see it so it doesn’t slip your mind.
SWERVE GROUP CHATS
If, and only if, you’d rather not be added to the class WhatsApp group chats, you can change your settings to only allow your contacts to be able to add you. Make sure your parent friends know that you are not a fan of being put in groups too.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
Make sure you have everything sorted the night before each school day to make the morning smoother. Incorporate packing bags and sorting homework as part of your child’s evening routine. It’s good to encourage them to take on the responsibility, as much as possible. Have a space for bags to be kept by the door so you always know where they are.
FOOD ON THE GO
If getting breakfast down their necks on time is hard going, have some ‘breakfast on the go’ items ready. Fruit, overnight oats, smoothies, breakfast bagels, muffins, energy bites… this can be particularly useful for teens!
ASK LATER
To find out about your child’s day, hold off the interrogation for at least 60 mins from pick up. Drink, snack, regulation. This means some time to burn off pent up energy, or some quiet time – depending on your child and their needs.
LOVE NOTE
Ease any back to school, or everyday, anxiety by slipping a little note into their lunch, snack box, school bag or pocket. It’s a little reminder that you’re thinking of them.
QUIET TIME
Don’t over plan activities out of school for a few weeks. Again, this depends on the child, but especially those starting school, some time to just “be” at home can really help them adjust to the new routine. They might be very tired for the first few weeks and need some quiet time to relax, unwind and recover.
DON’T STRESS!
Routines will have slipped over the holidays and that is perfectly fine. It really won’t take long for kids to adjust back and get into the swing of things. Try to relax and know it will all be okay.
