When school years or new terms are approaching, preparing everyone for school is essential. For children, this often means buying school supplies, meeting teachers, and getting organised. For parents, it may mean arranging childcare or finding the right school for their child.
The schools in Leeds are happy to engage with parents and their children to make it as smooth a transition as possible. Education should be an enjoyable as well as informative experience. What we learn early on we tend never to forget.
No matter what your role in the school preparations process is, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Don’t Leave Things to the Last Minute
First, don’t wait until the last minute to do everything. There’s no need to procrastinate when it comes to school preparations – start early and take your time!
There will be requirements of the school and things to buy that make school life easier. Finding out what other parents are buying will be good research in preparation for a school start. It helps if you have had other children go through the same process fairly recently. There may be variations between schools to know about, but the school should inform you of these in good time. If not, then enquire to put your mind at rest. Preferably before the school starts its holidays and it is harder to make contact with anyone.
Communicate Effectively
Second, be sure to communicate with each other. Parents need to talk to their children about school expectations and rules, while children need to communicate with their parents about any problems they’re having at school or with friends. Preparing everyone for school involves countless conversations.
It is important to be in contact with the right people who can have the answers about how best to prepare for school. This can be because their children have already been through the experience or are in the same position and have found out more information than you have.
Try Not to Get Too Anxious
Finally, try not to get too stressed out. The school year can be challenging but it’s also a lot of fun. Just relax and enjoy it! Many things are learned at school because of the curriculum and the creativity of teachers making the learning experience an enjoyable one. They are trained in their subject and how best to put that material, or any information, over to children of the age they have specialised in.
Children will soon pick up on the anxiety of parents. If, as a parent, you can remain calm then your child has a better chance of doing the same. They will be looking for that reassurance from their parents that it is all going to be okay. They may have heard things in the street or on the internet that have frightened them and it is for the parent to dismiss or lessen the need for that particular fear. While the role of preparing everyone for school is never easy, it is always worthwhile.
Areas are different and schools differ in their performance, results, and discipline. If you have a good school then there should be nothing to fear. You will be among friends and have a supportive network that is geared specifically to providing the best possible learning platform for your child.
The more prepared everyone is for school, the pleasanter the earlier days will be. We, of course, get into a routine with time but it is good to get off on the right footing. Talking to other parents and children who already know each other from neighbourhoods is a very good start. If other siblings attend the same school, this can help everyone feel more comfortable. The children can look out for each other and the parents can be reassured their children are in good company. You then already have that protection and network to nurture a child to success.
