The summer holidays are just about to begin. You are probably busy planning how to keep your kids entertained or how to cover child-care. The summer holidays always fly by and before you know it, it’ll soon be back to school and you’ll be getting them ready to go. To help you out, we’ve put together a quick checklist to help you beat the final rush so you can focus on enjoying the summer days instead.
School supplies
Pens, pencils, rubber, ruler, geometry set, and the list goes on. Before you buy, can you re-use anything you’ve already got? Remember, if your child is taking exams, only clear pencil cases will be allowed. Be prepared and stock up on stationary so your child is ready for the new school year.
Uniforms and name labels
School uniform will undoubtedly be at the top of your list. To help you order a correctly sized garment for your child we have developed a School Uniform Sizing Guide for primary and secondary school children. The guide explains how to measure your child and provides basic wash care instructions to ensure the longevity of your garments. We recommend ordering a new uniform (and a couple of spares - one on, one in the wash, and one drying) well in advance to ensure it's a perfect fit, and label them to help return any lost items.
Getting to and from school
Whether you’re driving your children to and from school, or if they are taking alternative transport it's good to plot the route as well as an alternative just in case. The journey to school can be by foot, bike, bus or car. We recommend walking or biking if it is possible as this will keep your child healthy and active.
Lunchbox and water bottle
You know how important it is to keep children feeling full, it helps them stay alert and focused in the classroom. Plan nutritious packed lunches and snacks to last them a day with these quick recipe ideas. A wide variety of recipes are available so your children will never get bored of the same food! Make transporting their lunch easy and fun with a lunch cooler bag. And remember a lightweight water bottle to keep your little ones hydrated.
Other clothing and accessories
Accessories are easily forgotten. Do their shoes fit, look presentable and can be put on unaided? Have you got a suitable PE kit for both summer and winter? If your school has a tie policy, why not get your child to practice putting it on over the summer? Also remember that a lot of schools are now encouraging the purchase of high visibility, reflective clothing and accessories to keep children safe on darker mornings and afternoons.
Bedtime routine and practice morning
Holidays will inevitably shift your child's routine. We think it is a great idea to re-establish bedtime routine a couple of weeks before returning to school. In fact, why not have a day, or two, to practice school day mornings with an earlier wake-up time, getting ready and having breakfast to avoid obvious hurdles on their first day back?
We hope the checklist is helpful for when your child is returning to school, and from everyone at School Trends, we hope you all have a great summer.
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