How to get your kids ready to go back to school
With the summer holidays ending in Dubai, it’s time to prepare for sending your kids back to school. If you’re wondering how to send kids to school, here are some effective back to school tips that will help to make the big return as smooth as possible.
TIPS ON HOW TO SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL
With schools reopening soon, we’re here to help you instil a love of learning in your children. Let’s dive right into some tried and tested back to school tips!
RE-ESTABLISH THE SCHOOL ROUTINE
For kids, school isn’t just a place for learning; it’s also a place for socialising. While most children might be excited to return to the books and see their classmates again, others might not be as eager.
If a child exhibits the same behaviour, here are some back to school tips for parents to cheer them up.
DIVERT THEIR ATTENTION TO MORE PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES
For most children, summer vacation is filled with video games and their favourite television programs. So, returning to a routine where they have to spend hours in classrooms can be unwelcome.
Want to know how to send kids to school so they adapt quickly to the learning process? It’s simple – have them dedicate some hours of the day to activities that sharpen their learning skills towards the end of summer vacations.
Exercise is a great way to wean kids off the leisurely summer lifestyle. Here are some of the best workouts for kids at home. You can turn off the electronics and encourage them to read or engage in some puzzles for a few hours.
REVAMP YOUR SCHEDULES
With the summer vacations ending, your child’s freedom to sleep in and eat during all times of the day will also end. So, you must prepare your little ones to naturally adjust to the new routine. The best way to do it is to re-establish a more disciplined routine.
Talking about back to school tips, implement the routine a week before classes start. Schedule strict bedtimes and have them wake up closer to the times they usually do during school months.
The same applies to the time it takes them to get dressed and eat breakfast. Practice runs like these will make you and your child more comfortable with the new routine and smooth out any troubling spots before school starts.
ANTICIPATE THE BIGGEST ISSUES FIRST
One of the best back to school tips for parents is to anticipate the biggest problems you usually face during the school year and prepare for them beforehand. Does your child have trouble with goodbyes?
- Choose a spot for your farewells, such as the front door and practice your goodbyes there. Make it fun by inventing a secret handshake.
- Are they forgetful? Show – don’t tell – them how to establish spots where they keep their belongings.
- Are they worried about getting around a new school? Map out the hallways, classrooms and important areas like the nurse’s room beforehand to help them navigate easily.
GET ORGANISED
One of the best back to school hacks for parents is to stay organised. The more structured your schedule is, the easier it will be for you to straighten out your child’s school routine.
Here are some ways that can help.
DE-CLUTTER
Summer vacations come with clutter… and a lot of it. To ease yourself and the kids back into a more structured routine, de-clutter and organise. A good way to start is by stocking up on school supplies, tidying the wardrobes and scheduling important activities.
From crayons to books and clothes, list anything your child might need for the new term. If possible, acquire a list of school essentials from their teachers and buy them in advance.
Tidy up your kid’s wardrobe by ridding it of old clothes and stocking up on the latest kids’ back-to-school fashion.
Map the school schedule on a calendar as an efficient way to keep up with important events like quiz days, holidays and school trips.
SET UP A STUDY STATION
Nothing is more frustrating for a child than doing homework with distractions all around them.
Designate a space at home where your child can study or do homework in peace. Distraction-free work zones are important and will come in handy when the first few homework waves start.
Organised study spaces will help your kids focus better on their lessons and sail through the first few weeks of school without being overwhelmed. All in all, it’s the perfect strategy to successfully re-integrate your kids back to school.
LET YOUR KIDS PICK THEIR SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Involve the kids in the preparation by shopping for supplies together. This will help them adapt to a new learning environment faster. Allow them to choose their school bags, pencil cases, lunch boxes and books. It’s also a great way to instil a sense of responsibility in them.
MAKE THEM MORE INDEPENDENT
Speaking of back to school tips, allow your kids to take on more chores of their own. It will give you a helping hand and make your kids more self-reliant. Whether making their own bed or getting themselves dressed, teaching them to be more self-sufficient early on will lay the groundwork for them to be more independent as they grow older.
You can:
- Make a list of things your child can do.
- Inject some fun into the tasks or activities.
- Appreciate them with a small reward once they complete all the tasks assigned.
PLAN LUNCH MEALS
Packing daily school lunches can seem like a drag and consume too much time if you aren’t prepared.
Remember these back to school tips to ensure your children eat healthy daily.
MAKE A LUNCH PLAN
Most parents prepare their kids’ school lunches, which can sometimes be frustrating. An easy way to avoid morning freak-outs is to ask your kids in advance about their healthy meal preferences and what they’d like to eat. Of course, kids can be finicky eaters.
To keep things interesting, design a new weekly food chart every weekend. This way, your kids know what to expect, and you know exactly what to pack the next day.
PACK SMALL SERVINGS
Packing a big sandwich, a large cup of yoghurt, or an oversized salad may be tempting for health-conscious parents. But children, especially elementary school kids, may be too busy chatting with their pals to finish a large lunch before the break runs out.
To ensure that they eat most, if not all, of their lunch, keep servings small. Use lunch boxes that come with compartments like Bento boxes. Don’t want to buy new ones? Make your own compartments with silicone cupcake liners instead.
FAQs ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS
WHEN WILL SCHOOLS RE-OPEN IN DUBAI?
Schools in Dubai are expected to re-open on 26th August 2024.
ARE THERE ANY BACK TO SCHOOL OFFERS IN DUBAI?
There are many amazing back to school offers in Dubai that you can avail of on everything from electronic items to apparel and footwear.
WHEN WILL KIDS GET THEIR NEXT BREAK FROM SCHOOL?
You can check out the UAE academic calendar 2024 – 2025 to learn about upcoming breaks and holidays.
That ends our list of the best tips and tricks for sending kids back to school. Buy them new bags, pens, fresh notebooks, colours, crayons and other essentials. They will feel happy! There are many online stores to buy school supplies in Dubai.
How do you prepare to send your kids back to school? Let us know in the comments below.
