July 1st, time to go back to school again for most of the schools in Delhi/NCR. For some of us, the anxiety is building on, and for some organized moms there is no tension because some moms are really organized. These organized mom’s have their ways with things and their kids mostly turn out to me organized too and they don’t feel the anxiety of going to school on the first day, instead they are very excited and confident.
I’ve compiled a few points for you to keep in mind for the preparation of your child’s “going back to school”!
1.
Re-introduce a back to school bedtime. Wake the late sleepers earlier and earlier, closer to the hour they’ll need to rise when school begins at least a week in advance.
Make the morning routine as it would be during school days at least 3-4 days in advance.
2.
Start with meals as you would give them in school at least 3-4 days in advance. Incase of using meal coupons, make sure your kid has coupons in his/her school bag.
3.
Make a calendar for the week and month, as per school schedule. This also includes planning your holidays, trips, family events if any in advance if they are on school days.
4.
Get the uniforms in-tact. School shoes et all. Have them ready a few days before.
5.
Have your kids prepare their school bag, pencil box, etc. Buy stationary if needed.
6.
Check all notebooks, books, school diary for anything that needs your attention. Write a note in the school diary for any important information the teacher needs to know.
7.
Keep talking to your kids of safety in school, especially with girl child. Good touch and bad touch has to be revised with them. Teach your kids to be vocal about any sort of problems they face in school, school bus, car pool, etc. They should immediately inform their teacher, principal, parents and whom ever they trust.
8.
If possible, ask your kids to revise the studies that have been done in school. Just a little browsing is enough for kids to catch attention on what they did in class.
9.
Call your car pool friends and talk over the arrangement with them in advance, so as to avoid any confusion.
10.
Incase you use the bus facility, call the school authorities in advance to check for any change.
11.
Also if using your private driver, make sure he starts to come during school time a few days prior to opening of school as to set the routine.
12.
Keep talking to your kids about school, their class friends, their teachers, and so on. Discuss with them about their fears (if any) and give them the reassurance that whatever may happen, you are always standing beside them for any sort of help.
13.
Talk to your kids about their hobbies, interests, etc (though you must be knowing them yourself, but its always a good idea that the kids know what they want, and they should say it with a passion not because you like a certain activity and you want them to learn it so they are forced to admit.) Sometimes, we thing kids like something but actually they don’t and by fear of upsetting their parents they keep doing things without liking it, so make sure that whatever extra-curricular activity they choose, it is their choice and not yours, though ofcourse you can help them decide what’s good for them.
Be calm and positive to your child in case your child is difficult to handle. Do not over react. Let your child know his capabilities and strengths positively.
14.
After school re-opens, arrange play dates, get-togethers. This helps you to interact with your child’s friends also and helps in positive social relationships for your kids. This could be done before school re-opens as well.
15.
Since the next two months are monsoon months, make sure your kids have an umbrella or rain coat in their bags. Its also a good idea to have an extra set of shoes or slippers kept in their locker for emergencies.
16.
Get ready to pay the fees on time!
I am sure this list can carry on with back to school tips. Do send in your comments with your points.
Hope I have helped you a bit with some going back to school tips.
In addition to this are a few tips for Safe Food to pack for your kids for their mid-day meal.
- In the summer, give frozen Tetra Pak carton of juice, milk or lassi, as per what your kids likes. By the time the lunch time bell is rung, the Tetra Pak cartons would remain cool but not frozen. Giving Tetra Pak drinks like lassi, flavored milk, juices are better than giving drinks in plastic bottles or thermoses. Tetra Pak’s are more convenient and there is no fear of leakages. Kids love to drink from straws and will find drinking these drinks easy.
- Pack a meal that won’t spoil fast, wont leak in the bag, etc. Use the right type of lunch boxes for the meal you choose to give.
- Try to give food which is easy to eat and is not time consuming. Suppose you want to give chappati with vegetables, its easier to just make a roll, pack it in a foil and keep it in the lunch box. It will be easy for your child to just eat it while playing too.
- Give a good mixture of nutrients and vitamins that have energy as they need that the most. But don’t over stuff your kids.
- Make sure you teach your kids to sanitize their hands before eating, it’s a good idea to keep a sanitizer in their lunch kit.
- Keep a napkin or tissue in the lunch box.
- Make sure they carry enough water to drink, though schools do have the provision but its better to have your own.
Keep in touch with my blog for some cool recipies for the tiffin.
Very practical and informative. That’s like a good mom.