Back to school: Kindergarten, Year 7 parents urged to start new school routines

The first day of school is a few short weeks away, and teachers are urging parents to prepare new students for their next stage of learning now. See their tips here.

Teachers are urging parents to not speak for their children and shake up their routine with the first day of school less than three weeks away.

Amanda Monk, a Kindergarten teacher of 13 years and mum of three, said the best way to help your newly school-aged child adjust to long days in a classroom doesn’t require reading, writing or arithmetic.

“Get your kids to self-advocate for themselves,” Mrs Monk said.

“A lot of the time as parents, you often speak for your child – ‘are you hungry now?’ – instead of waiting for them to go to you ‘I’m hungry, can I have a snack?’ At school, as teachers we don’t sit there and ask … them that.”

Other simple routines parents should start practising with their kids now include opening up their lunch boxes and the snacks inside by themselves, wearing in their new leather school shoes and learning how to use the bathroom in their school uniforms.

Mrs Monk warned parents often put too much emphasis on day one of ‘big school’, leading young children to see it as a one-off excursion.

“A lot of parents have said to me; we built up starting school with ‘grandma and grandpa are going to drop you off, we’re going to get all the photos’, but then the kids are like, ‘oh, I’ve done school, what do you mean I have to go back again?’,” she said.

On day one, Mrs Monk advises “making a quick exit” to curb the almost inevitable tears at the gate.

Her school, Northbourne Public, is one of many that now facilitate photos so parents don’t hang around after kids get settled in the classroom.

Mrs Monk also recommends parents be realistic about their child’s emotions and energy levels after long days at school – after the two-week mark, the adrenalin of new friends and a big playground wears off and fatigue starts to set in, she said.

“Getting those routines in now - a really good bedtime routine where you’re in bed by 7-7:30pm, and setting up a breakfast routine – would be really helpful for parents”, she said.

Kirstin and Andrew Hansch have been helping five-year-old daughter Charlotte practise packing her bag for the first day of school. Picture: Julian Andrews

Five-year-old Charlotte Hansch has been excitedly preparing for her first day at Leichhardt Public School with office manager mum Kirstin and musician dad Andrew, trying on her new school uniform.

She loves the outfit; “I actually got more than one,” she said.

44-year-old Kirstin and 47-year-old Andrew are relaxed ahead of the big day. It isn’t their first rodeo, with Charlotte’s older sister Isabella now entering Year 8.

Charlotte’s childcare centre has been a key part of her school readiness, taking some of the pressure off her parents with routines like carrying a lunchbox, as has the school itself, facilitating playdates with her new peers.

Charlotte Hansch is very excited to be heading to Leichhardt Public School this year. Picture: Julian Andrews

“I made new friends and built a zoo (on my playdate),” Charlotte said.

“It’s all been very well planned by the school,” Kirstin said.

“The school is very inclusive,” Andrew said, “it has the parents involved quite a lot. That’s what we love about it so much.

“We’re not so worried about the academic side of it, especially in Kindergarten – you just want them to be comfortable and launch from there,” he said.

“You make friends, and really grow to love school, and then the academics fall into place afterwards,” Kirstin added.

At the other end of the spectrum, parents of Year 7 students are preparing for their tweens to enter their biggest school yet. Strathfield Girls High School principal Mechel Pikoulas said a step up in the volume and intensity of the workload is often the biggest shock for students.

“It’s a dramatic shift in terms of the assessment structure – there will be formal assessments in Year 7. The expectations, the homework volume may be slightly different,” Ms Pikoulas said.

To get students organised, parents should put the schedule on the fridge or somewhere prominent in the house, be aware of their child’s deadlines, and help them establish a study routine.

“Above all, ensure children get adequate sleep – that’s one of the big issues we see with teenagers. Fatigue can really impact on learning and wellbeing,” she said.

With many parents opting to get their Year 7s a smartphone for the first time, Ms Pikoulas warned healthy technology habits need to start now.

“I’m hated for this by students, but I’ve always said devices should not be charged in bedrooms. They should be outside so that the bedroom is a place for peace and sleep.”