Whether your kids are heading to school for the first time, starting high school or changing schools, it can often be accompanied by a little bit of stress and anxiety.

We are not just talking the kids here either – many of us mums feel very anxious and a bit teary about sending our precious bundles off the school!

Here are our best tips for a stress free back to school!

• BE POSITIVE 

Whenever you are talking about school, keep a positive attitude. Kids will quickly pick up any anxiety or negativity you might be feeling about it. Talk about all the fun things you used to do at school and all the friends you made.

• PACK A YUMMY LUNCH

Pack something your child loves to eat for the first day so there is something for them to look forward to. Get them involved in the process of choosing and packing the lunch. Here are some great snack ideas to get you started. 

• REMINDER TAGS

Remindables are a genius idea from two mums to help kids get more organised, remember everything and stay calm. They are reminder tags on a leather strap that attach to bags, lunchboxes or pencil cases. 

Choose from school essentials, affirmations or an anxiety set. 

GET REMINDABLES HERE

• DO A PRACTICE RUN

If you are able, get permission to visit the school in the holidays. Hang out on the swings, stroll around the buildings, find the toilets and get familiar with the layout before the big day. Most places will have an orientation day, but visiting when its quiet can make a difference.

• BUDDY UP

See if you can find someone who will be in your child’s class. Have them over for a play date before-hand to get friendly and chat about school. Encourage them to look out for each other on the day.

• KEEP IT SIMPLE

Make sure bags, bottles and lunch boxes are easy to access for little fingers. It’s not much fun struggling with layers of cling wrap to get to your lunch! 

• SENSORY TOYS
  

Sensory toys are so useful for kids with special needs or just for helping kids feel calm and connected. 

RUBBABU MINI BALLS 

JELLYSTONE DIY CALM DOWN BOTTLE

JELLYSTONE CHEW NECKLACES

• AFTER-SCHOOL FUN

Although they will most likely be exhausted, a small treat to look forward to after school can be something to get them through the day. A visit to the park or reading their favourite story perhaps?

• LOVE NOTES 

Write your kids a cute little love note, jokes or pop some stickers in their lunchbox for a nice surprise! For the ultimate in cool and eco-friendly, write a message on a banana skin with a skewer. By lunch time, it will have magically appeared.

• GET ORGANISED

Setting up a routine will keep morning chaos to a minimum and everyone calm. Use checklists and have a central point for the all school stuff. Routine boards are a great visual aid for kids to use. 

• HAVE A SCHOOL DAY AT HOME

Have a fun day at home where you play ‘school’. Get up, get ready, get the uniform on and have brekky in real school time.

Go outside for lunch and practice opening the new lunch bags, lunch boxes and water bottles.

• MAKE A NIT SPRAY

This our tried and true spray for preventing head lice. It's one less thing you have to worry about if you can avoid those itchy little bugs. 

125ml water

40ml or around 2 tablespoons of natural conditioner

10 drops tea tree oil

10 drops lavender oil

Pop everything into a spray bottle and shake vigourously. Spray onto the hair and comb through. You can use it on wet or dry hair and it doesn’t need to be washed first.

• NEW LUNCHBOX IDEAS

Need some inspiration for healthy lunches? We have collated our best recipes and tips for school lunches into an ebook for you. 

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

 

We would love to hear your tips for making back to school easy, organised and stress-free. Chat to us on social media and let us know your thoughts.