kiddi
Shane Warren
After long summer holidays and special festive season moments the return to school can be quite an emotional tug-a-war for both the young ones in the house and the parents…
So, what do we need to plan for? In my house I take a multi-focused approach… a bit of body, mind and spirit.
Body:
This is about getting our body clock back into the groove of the school term. So, as we approach the holiday end in the last few days it is clever to start back into the bed routines, the lights out times and wake up for breakfast as per usual on an average old school day.
Interesting fact, sleep studies suggest we should not really change our sleep patterns at all – we get greater sleep outcomes if we go to bed roughly around the same time each night and wake up roughly around the same time each morning; weekdays, weekends and holidays!
Also, I slow the occasional foods indulgence so that we can get some of that sugar and other stimulants out of the body – a bit a detox for want of a better word. But it is not just about the breakdown of such foods but rather to help our children modify that craving and habit of ‘yum and go eating’ that often creeps in over holidays.
Another body focus I like to take is the school uniform audit. We want our children to feel comfortable from day one of the new school term; so, go through what you have be bold and toss out anything that is too small or too warn and buy what new you might need. Have them walk into the school day one feeling as cool as one can in a school uniform.
Mind:
With this area I like to wake up their brains and help them to get ready for focus. So, I will push a little harder on the 20-minutes of reading everyday rule we have in the house. I will get my children to do a little extra music practice. Maybe practice some maths exercises. Pose a riddle challenge. Write a journal reflection on the holiday’s joys and angst.
The goal here is to respect the fact that all of us need some brain rest downtime, but the brain is like a muscle it needs rest and it needs stimulation. So, as we are about to go back into a full day of learning, help your children be ready for this by getting them to do some extra thinking as we approach the holiday end.
Another interesting fact did you know that when playing a musical instrument, you are doing the equivalent for the brain and a full cross fit or aerobic exercise class is doing for your body? So, don’t be shy to be a pushing parent and make your children practice their instruments – they will hate you in the moment, but love you for it when they are adults!
Spirit:
This is the tough one; this is about helping our children get into the buzz that they are about to lose the comfort of no routine and get back into a somewhat rigid routine for another few months.
To help with this I remind myself that no person is an island and we are by nature social beings. Which means for me it is about preparing my children for the social aspect that is school. Have open conversations about what they are excited about, and what is creating a sense of apprehension. Don’t brush over the fact that they are having stress about what is going to happen in the coming week. Talk openly about it all, help them find solution; which sometimes might mean you need to give them some advice but give them options in that advice.
This is also a powerful time to help your children master real-time-resilience. Give them the steps they need to experience challenges but to come back from those challenges a changed and ‘better’ person.
What about the parents?
Oh, all of the above applies to us as well – you need to get yourself ready for that loss of freedom and back to the go-go-go of the school term!
