1 Look through the new textbooks
Do you remember feeling excited when buying or getting a new textbook? The smell of print, the texture of the paper and the promises we made ourselves to try to do our best? Children today still enjoy going through something new, so parents should leaf through their new textbooks with them. It will help children look forward to their new school year. Younger students will enjoy looking at pictures and meeting the characters who will accompany them throughout the next year (are they still called Peter and Jane or are they Tom and Kate now?) Older students might even try to cover some of the new study material. Children of all ages should be encouraged to do this so that, once they start school, they will feel confident about the new material.
2 Review new school subjects
Pupils of all ages will be doing something new this year, particularly in secondary school. Why not introduce them to the new subjects during these last few weeks of their holidays? If secondary school pupils are starting to learn a foreign language, why not introduce them to some basic words or some basic information about the country? The internet is full of resources for learning a foreign language. Even for parents who do not anything about the language their children choose, this could be an opportunity to spend quality time together. You can also find school syllabi online, so preparing and working through some basic exercises is another way to spend time together.
3 Plan lunch ideas
Cooking and children are a messy combination but this should not be an excuse to exclude the children from helping to prepare family meals. Involve children in preparing snacks for themselves and for their siblings. Let them try out new flavours and sandwich fillings, and to prepare colourful salads. Show them how to use a hand blender safely to prepare delicious milkshakes and smoothies. Trying out new snacks will help them decide what type of lunch they will prefer to take to school and you will avoid worrying about them going to school without eating anything.
4. Prepare to use school transport
Teaching road safety rules is an investment. It'll pay off immediately and when the children themselves will become drivers. If your children's pick up and drop off point for school transport is some distance away from home, take them along the road and explain how and where they should walk safely. Let them do it on their own more than once to help them adapt to the situation. Make sure they know the route by heart or have written down the driver's mobile number and yours too.
5 Plan a time-table
It's useless to impose a time-table on your children based on your commitments alone. Discuss with them what activities they would like to do after school and explain, while showing them in writing, that planning is very important. If an activity clashes with your working hours and it'ss not possible for you to drive them around, explain this to your children while showing them the time on a real clock.
Emphasise the importance of not lazing around in the morning. Encourage them to clear up the breakfast things and point out where the uniforms, socks and shoes will be found every morning. Involve them in laying out their things every evening. If you wait until the first week of school to teach your children these things, you'll set yourself an impossible task because of the excitement of the new school year, and the pressure on your time.