The start of a new school year can be a time that is full of excitement for many. However, it can also be a time of anxiety and stress. To help ease these fears we’ve put together some advice to keep in mind as the school year gets underway.

Get to know the school
If your child is starting a new school, or even just moving to a different building within the same location, make it a priority to familiarise yourself with the school and its layout. Familiarising your child with their environment will help her avoid first day issues about where to go when they arrive and make settling in much easier.

Get to know the new teacher.
For young people, one of the biggest back-to-school worries can be about their new teacher. What will they be like? Will they like me? Your child will most likely have met their new teacher before the end of term so try to take time to ask how that meeting went and find out if they have any particular worries. If you have the chance to meet the new teacher yourself try to take advantage of that or if this isn’t possible before the new year starts then try to plan in a suitable time when you can. If your child has any major concerns or anxieties be sure to make it a priority to contact the school and discuss these as soon as you can – the earlier the better.

Prepare
No matter how old your child is, it can be a good idea to get ready for the return to school by ensuring you know what supplies they need. Make sure you refresh yourself with any updates from school and perhaps plan a special shopping trip with your child to buy any new equipment they’ll need – having the right tools will help them feel prepared. Whilst ensuring the basics are covered, maybe allow for a couple of treats like a cool notebook or a favourite-coloured pen. Such simple things can make going back to school a lot more fun.

Get your child excited about the new year by talking about what projects or subject areas they are looking forward to.

Ease into the routine.
Switching from a summer to a school schedule can be a stressful for everyone. Avoid first-day-of-school mayhem by practising your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing a solid school routine will make the first day of school go much smoother.