9 Tips For Getting Your Kids Back-To-School Ready

All good things have to come to an end, as students all over Singapore bid adieu to the giddiness of all-day play in a few weeks. It is also time to start planning (again) for the new school year. (Hello, pre-dawn wakeup calls!) Here are some tips to get your little one geared up and excited to dive right into academic life once school bells start ringing.

1. Reset your body clock

It’s typical. The school holiday starts and routine flies out the window. They’ve been turning in way past bedtime and waking up way past breakfast — everyday. It’s even worse if you’ve vacationed in a different time zone, and you’ll definitely need some time to recalibrate before January rolls around. Take one to two weeks to resettle them in their regular sleep routine before they head back to school. Be firm about this because you really don’t want your kids to be sleep-deprived, cranky in the morning, and only half-awake in class.

2. Do morning rehearsals

In tandem with reintroducing bedtime, gradually shift wake-up time earlier. During the week leading up to school reopening, you should begin “rehearsing” the school routine. Get them up early, washed up and changed, fed, and ready for the day. Even if you don’t actually take them out, the little ones can spend the morning reading or flip through new textbooks of their favourite subjects. 

3. Talk about heading back to school

This serves as a reminder of what’s to come, creating anticipation and setting expectations around the new school year. Your child might be feeling some anxiety about going back to school, and you can help ease that by acknowledging their feelings and addressing the sources of their worries. Discussing the new school routine could help some children, meeting up with their schoolmates could help others — listen to your child and try to troubleshoot.

4. Reconnect socially 

School can become a distant concept over the holidays. But checking in with schoolmates can help your little one feel more excited about school reopening. It can also help manage any social anxiety they may be feeling, whether they’re able to pinpoint or verbalise this or not. Organise a playdate or two with their favourite friends before school starts to inject positive vibes all around. 

5. Settle supplies

Make getting school supplies a fun affair for them. If possible, let them pick out their own stationery, pencil case, school bag, and wallet. Having gear that they love will help build excitement about going back to school again.

6. Get organised 

On the subject of having your child manage their own homework, there’s no better time than now to get them set up and organised. If it’s age-appropriate, consider introducing them to apps or platforms to help them stay on top of their assignments, such as myHomework Student Planner or The Homework App. If they’re younger and not yet using personal learning devices, you can consider using planners and teaching them how to neatly stow away papers and books.

7. It’s detox time 

Another holiday hazard: unlimited or less limited screen time! To avoid acute screen withdrawal or schoolday battles over how much TV they can watch, it’s wise to gradually reduce their screen time before school starts. Implement a tech detox routine to ease the transition from holiday gaming to focused study sessions. This reminds them that their holiday screen liberties are coming to an end and prepares them mentally for returning to student life.   

8. Set goals 

Discussing and sharing New Year resolutions as a family can be a motivating affair, if you keep your goals realistic. This can help create anticipation for your child, and give him or her something to work towards! Little people goals could be as simple as “I will wash my hands before meals and after using the bathroom”, “I will be kind to the kid who looks sad or lonely”, “I will do one hour of sports twice a week”, or “I will read a book for fifteen minutes a day”… you get the idea.

9. Start a countdown calendar  

This works like an advent calendar, except you’re counting down to the first day of school. You can create a two-week calendar and include small surprises or fun activities each day for the kids. This will build up excitement for their return to school, making it less of a dread. 

Remember, the key is to blend preparation with enjoyment. Transitioning from the holidays to the new academic year can be seamless and even fun with a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of positivity.

This article was originally published on Dec 14, 2023, and updated on Dec 18, 2024.