WHETHER children are going back to school or starting for the first time, school can be chaotic for everyone involved – but it doesn’t have to be.
Local teachers say there are some tricks and tips on how to reduce stress during that first week of school.
Specialist Teacher (Prep to Year 6), Demi Deegan said if your child is starting prep this year, the biggest help is being calm and confident.
“Children take their emotional cues from you,” she said.
“Keep the goodbyes short and predictable, like a quick hug and a clear ‘I’ll see you after school’ and then go, because lingering often increases anxiety.”
And “talk positively about school, even if your child is nervous.”
Mrs Deegan says establishing a morning routine before school starts will help reduce stress the morning of.
“Practise the morning routine a week or two before school starts – for example wake-up times, getting dressed, breakfast etc,” she said.
For the first week of school “we establish classroom routines and we repeat expectations over and over – where to sit, how to line up, where bags go etc.”
“Clear routines are comforting.”
Mrs Deegan says creating a couple of small daily habits at home can help as well.
“Pack bags and lunches the night before to reduce that morning stress,” she said.
“Personally, we have a bag and shoe drop off zone at home where my daughter can unpack her bag and lunchbox and that keeps everything in one place.”
High School Teacher (Year 10 to 11), Alex Smith says having a checklist can help older students feel more prepared.
“We often see high school students come to school unprepared that first week – forgetting their pens, stationery or notebooks – so having a checklist for the first week and packing things in advance will really help them feel more prepared,” she said.
“Also, if you haven’t got your books and stationery yet don’t leave it to the last minute, because that can be a stress in itself. I tell my parents to grab things throughout the year so it’s not a hassle right before school starts.”
Mrs Smith says making sure your kids get a good night sleep is also important.
“In those first few weeks make sure your kids get a good night sleep, as it is a hard transition going from holidays back into school,” she said.
“Kids can get exhausted very quickly and it can show in their schoolwork.”
It’s not just parents and children that feel the stress of that first week of school either, teachers do too.
“We’re juggling settling children, supporting parents, managing tears, routines, admin, and learning plans all at once,” Mrs Deegan said.
“There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes reassurance and quiet comforting and a lot of us have our own children too.”
Advice for those whose little ones are starting prep this year is to “just trust the teachers.”
“We focus on building those relationships first and showing students warmth and kindness will build that trust, but it does take time for them to feel at ease,” Mrs Deegan said.
Class act: A way through school’s first-day jitters
