Tips for the new school year

One of the most important factors in a child’s success at school is the support he gets at home. As a parent, you have an important role to play in facilitating, encouraging, and preparing the way for your child to achieve academic happiness.

Succeeding in school makes school and learning a happier experience for your child.

Tips for parents

Encourage your child to be positive about school life and work.

Be on time. For the first weeks in particular, and indeed throughout your child’s school career, it is important that you are on time when picking him up from school.

Develop a good routine. Over the first few weeks of school, work at developing a good routine. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep — the first term at school can be particularly tiring for your child as he encounters new experiences and tries to adjust to a new routine. Try to ensure that your child has a regular bedtime and make a conscious effort to stick to it.

Pay attention to your child’s nutrition. Your child will need nutritious snacks and lunch for school, and will also need regular meal times at home. Again, the routine is important as it adds to your child’s sense of security and wellbeing.

Be organised — this routine extends into your day, too. You will need to quickly develop a routine for yourself that allows you to get your child up and ready, in plenty of time for school, without too much rushing. Likewise, in the afternoon give yourself enough time to get to the school gate to collect your child.

Attend parents’ evenings, reviews, and meetings. Also attend school events, school concerts, school nativity plays, team games, etc. Your attendance at these is a loud message to your child of your interest in him as a person and in his school achievements.

Build a good relationship with your child’s teachers. If you are worried about any aspect of your child’s school life, speak to your child’s class teacher, year tutor, or school principal. If there have been major changes or stressful events in your child’s life, it is important for teachers to be aware of them.

Don’t make appointments during school time unless it is essential. Also, as tempting as it is, avoid booking holidays during school time.

Be prepared to give time to your child at the end of the school day by supporting him with his homework, or just being available to listen to his views and opinions.

Be ready for the more stressful times in school, eg, exams, problems with teachers, conflict with friends or other students, etc. Work out tactics and ideas about how best to cope.

For more information visit www.RollerCoaster.ie, Ireland’s No 1 website for pregnancy and parenting.