Back to school is a new beginning. Often combined with many resolutions. Like a New Year’s Eve, you must first approach this week with serenity to prevent stress from infecting your child.

1. Prepare your child for the big day

If this is his first return to nursery school, it is essential to prepare your child well by talking to him a few days before what will happen to him: his new schedule, his new activities, his teacher, his schoolmates. game, canteen, etc. It’s a huge change for him, and this, even if he already knows life in a community, in a crèche or in shared custody.

Do not forget to talk to him about the constraints related to school so that he is not too disappointed: noise, fatigue, the rules to be respected, the teacher’s instructions will also be part of the program. Show him that you aren’t abandoning him by enrolling him in school, but that it will help him grow. How about you tell him about your first day of school? Children feel understood and very much appreciate sharing their parents’ memories.

2. Find a more reasonable pace

One week before the start of the school year, gradually abandon the rhythm of the holidays to allow you to find more fixed and reasonable schedules. It is therefore necessary – and you will all be more rested – not to come back from vacation the day before the start of the school year, your toes still full of sand. It will be difficult for children to reconnect with school life if the breakup is sudden.

We try to go to bed earlier: save fifteen minutes a night, for example. Remember that between the ages of six and twelve, a child should sleep between nine and twelve hours a night. (we rarely have them during the holidays!). Try to dine earlier, avoid the aperitifs that drag on and this, even the weekend before the start of the school year so as not to disrupt new habits and the new rhythm of the family. 

3. Organize yourself to be relaxed on the big day

What if you took a day or two off to be fully relaxed and with peace of mind on the first day of school? It’s a trick that many parents have adopted to be 100% with their child without stress or possible delay at work. Your child feels that you are really there for him and will be even more reassured. And if you are as anxious (or even more) than your child, this day will be an opportunity to breathe, to take time for you after having deposited your tribe in their respective classes.

To approach this day – and even this week – peacefully, also consider shopping for supplies before the holidays even begin. You will have a freer spirit! If you haven’t already done so, wait around 20 p.m. in the evening to go to your supermarket to avoid riots in the departments concerned! It is also possible to have the supplies delivered to your home. Don’t forget to involve your child a little bit in this adventure but just for the bare minimum (he could choose his diary, his schoolbag or his pencil case) so as not to have to drag him to the stores. Have a good start!

Maylis Choné

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