The Back-to-School Checklist you won’t find anywhere else
It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again. The uniform is purchased and the brand-new stationery is sitting in the pencil case waiting to go. You might have followed the school-issued lists to a tee but have you considered this Back-to-School Checklist?
Soothe anxious minds
Forget shopping for supplies or standing in a packed shoe shop trying to find your child’s toe is in a hard leather shoe, one of the greatest back-to-school challenges is the unseen labour of supporting your child with any anxieties they have about the upcoming year. Take some one-to-one time to talk openly about how they’re feeling and understand where their concerns are coming from. Children respond better to familiar scenarios so talk through everything you already know about their teacher, others that will be in their class, what sort of structure you think their days will take to prepare them as much as possible. If they’re feeling anxious about the journey to school do a trial run to familiarise them with the route but most of all reassure them that you will be there to tackle it all with them.
Admin
Who knew there was so much admin involved when preparing to go back-to-school? Rather than tackling it all in one go, set aside a period of time each evening and break it up into manageable chunks. What is involved will vary depending on the age of your child but you can guarantee that sewing, sticking, or stamping name tags into each new item of clothing will feature. If your child will be having school dinners check what you need to do to facilitate this whether it be topping up a prepaid card or selecting menu options ahead of the coming week.
School regulations
Speaking of lunches, some schools have strict rules on what can and cannot be included in lunch boxes so it’s worth finding out what is permitted before you do the big shop. Talk to your child and find 4-5 lunch combinations that they’re willing to eat so you can change the packed lunch up on a weekly basis ensuring that your child doesn’t get bored of what is on offer. It might sound like more work now, but believe us it’s hard to send a pack lunch when a child has taken sandwiches completely off the table! Refer to the school’s regulations because you might find that metal water bottles are banned.
Check in with yourself
Whether or not this is your first back-to-school rodeo, there’s nothing like seeing your kids in a brand-new school uniform to bring on all the feelings. First days are magical, full of stomach butterflies and pens that still have all their lids, but they can also be a source of anxiety for both children and parents. It’s often easier to reassure your child that everything will work out but what happens when the school doors close and you start to worry about whether they will have anyone to sit with? Write down your worries; sometimes getting irrational thoughts out onto paper can take away their power, just make sure you dispose of the paper thoroughly afterwards so your child never actually sees them. Once the worries are out of your head and onto the paper, jot down some actions you would take if these hypothetical scenarios come to life. The thinking behind this is there will be a sense of reassurance in seeing that there is nothing that can’t be fixed and you contain the tools within yourself to support your child if your fears are imagined.
Don’t feel guilty
Yes, you gave them a fantastic summer. Yes, they will miss you. No, it doesn’t make you a bad parent if you’re pleased to see them go. The summer holidays are a wonderful time for making memories and enjoying everything this island has to offer but it is also a stressful time for those who have to facilitate the creation of those picture-perfect moments while trying to hold down a job. Adults and children thrive on routine and when this is disrupted it leads to emotional dysregulation. It’s ok to feel relief at getting back into your own routine where you’re not ferrying children from summer schemes, to friends’ houses. It’s also ok to just want a bit of peace and quiet or the ability to clean the house without anyone actively trying to destroy it at the same time. The point is, that despite those cheesy Instagram quotes that remind us we only get 18 summers with our children, if you were present (in body, if not always in spirit) and you can think of family moments from the last few weeks that bring a smile to your face, you did enough.
