After an exciting summer filled with adventure and exploring new places, children are often reluctant to put their uniforms back on and resume their studies. If you have a little one at home who is resisting going back to school, there are things you can do to help them get excited and in the mood to learn.
Start by having a discussion about going back to school around the dinner table. Encourage your children to talk about the things they liked from their school year last year, and which friends they're most looking forward to seeing when they head back into the playground. Discuss the things they think they might learn in their new grade and if they know their teachers in advance, try and get them excited about the fun things they will do in their class.
Once your children are in the back to school mode, keep building excitement by sorting out the things they will need for school. Check to see if the school or teacher gives a list of suggested supplies that students will need. If your child's school doesn't give a list, check the Internet for suggestions from other parents about the tools their children are using.
Make a list of the things your children already have and what they'll need to go out and buy. If they have a favourite lunch box, knapsack or pencil case, clean this out and give it a good wash so it feels as good as new. Separate pens, pencils and markers into two piles, one for items they will reuse and one for items that are old and need to be thrown away. Once you have an idea of what you've got, sit down and write your list of things you need together, and choose a day that you'll go out shopping for their new school supplies and circle it on the calendar. This will help your young students anticipate not only the shopping trip, but the moment when they'll be able to use their new supplies.
After your shopping trip is over, let your children pack their schoolbags and pencil cases, and insist that they aren't allowed to use any of their new things until they're back at school. The excitement surrounding using their new pens and markers will expand to excitement about being back in the classroom. Have a discussion about the foods they'd like to eat during the day, and make a list together of the types of foods they'd like for packed lunches. This will help you get an idea of the foods they'd like to see in their lunchboxes, and help them get even more excited about the school day.
One of the most important parts of any back to school shop is the uniform, and making sure your child has the right uniform pieces will help them look their best on the first day of school. If your budding pupils don't like the idea of a uniform, encourage them to add special touches to their outfits with broaches and other jewellery, colourful socks or ties, and other unique pieces that they come up with. Take your child to pick out a special pair of indoor or outdoor shoes to help them feel excited about new aspects of their uniform, or let them pick out their new fall coat and encourage them to stand out on the playground.
Whether you're buying new school supplies or getting your kids to try on new girls and boys schoolwear, you can help your children get excited and look forward to heading back into the classroom.
Clint Starr writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
