It's that time of year again, as summer vacation approaches and children prepare to go back to school. As a parent, you want your child to return to school with passion and enthusiasm for learning. The family is the primary and most important support for the child at this stage, as they can provide support in many ways, such as emotional and financial support. In addition, families can be a positive role model, and can contribute by providing transportation, childcare, and other forms of practical assistance. In this article from Dalili Medical, we will review how to prepare the child psychologically to return to school, the role of classes and interaction in motivating children, in addition to the importance of practicing activities that encourage the child to return to school.

**The importance of psychological preparation for returning to school**

 

- Teaching the child the importance of commitment and respect for the educational environment.

- Educating the child on how to behave correctly when facing bullying.

- Training the child on how to deal with different situations.

- Encouraging the child to go to school with passion and happiness.

- Strengthening the student's love for his school, teachers, and friends.

- Increasing the student's enthusiasm for studying.

What skills are necessary for my child to succeed in school?

 

School is more than just a place to study, do homework and take tests; it is an integrated community. So, it is not enough to send your child to school loaded with a bag of books and school supplies.

Your child needs to acquire a set of life and behavioral skills that help him integrate into the school environment, enhance his personality, and communicate effectively with his teachers and colleagues.

Parents are the child's first teacher, and these skills start at home.

The most prominent skills that enhance your child's success in school are:

- Creative thinking

- Cooperation

- Critical thinking

- Effective communication

- Organization and focus

**Sleep times**

Did you know that fatigue negatively affects a person's ability to concentrate, learn, and remember important information? Children are more affected by this than adults. Sleep is essential for their overall health, as children need enough sleep during their growth period, and their bodies need rest, especially on school days. As the start of the school year approaches, it is a good idea to start getting your children used to their regular sleep times. You can start gradually adjusting their sleep times over the coming days, so that they can sleep early enough to perform at their best in school.

- 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours (including naps)

- 6 to 12 years: 9 to 12 hours

- 13 to 18 years: 8 to 10 hours

How can I motivate my child to return to school after a long break?

 

Create a gradual daily schedule

Well before the start of the school year (one to two weeks), start implementing a gradual daily schedule that resembles the school routine. Set specific times for waking up and sleeping, as well as time for academic activities such as reading or doing exercises. This will help children gradually adjust to the school system, reducing the shock of returning to routine.

Prepare the child psychologically to meet new friends

Making friends and accepting new colleagues is one of the most important issues that occupy children’s minds when returning to school, especially if the child is new to the educational institution. There are many ways that parents can encourage and support their child during this stage.

Share your experience at school with your child

By telling a story about your first day there. Talk about your feelings at that moment and the beautiful memories you have kept. If possible, find pictures of yourself from school days or pictures of adults your child trusts, and discuss them together.

Prepare a study corner

There are many activities and events for children, as their time can pass in a fleeting and boring way, or their lives can be transformed into an experience rich in activities that enhance their positive energy. Preparing a study corner is one of the best activities that will make your child excited to start his school year. It is essential that this corner is colorful and attractive to the child, and most importantly, it is in a quiet place away from noise, distraction and chaos, which helps him focus, especially in the first weeks of the new school year.

Implementing a new routine

Start by setting the sleep and wake-up times that your child will adhere to before the start of the pre-primary education stage, several weeks before the start of school. Choose a bedtime that will allow your child to get a good night’s rest, and a wake-up time that will allow you both to get ready in the morning without rushing. This will help them adjust to the new routine. If possible, make choosing school clothes together the night before and eating breakfast together in the morning part of this new routine.

Encourage your child to introduce themselves to the teacher and classmates

Parents should support their children in expressing themselves and breaking down barriers between teacher and pupil at the start of the school year. This fun, interactive activity can be used to help your child introduce themselves to their teacher and classmates as the new school year begins.

Update school supplies in a fun way

Make buying and preparing school supplies a fun experience. Let children be involved in choosing school supplies such as bags, notebooks and pens. You could also set aside time to decorate or organise their home office, making it a comfortable and attractive place for them to study.

Using the "My First Week at School" Book

This book is similar to the "My First Day at School Book", but focuses on a longer period of time, as it reviews a full school week and the activities and situations that the child may encounter at school. The parent can use the one-day book as a first step to prepare the child, then move on to the full week book to ensure a morePreparing.

Play a school game with your child at home using role-playing. This game can help prepare your child for the idea of ​​joining preschool. Take turns performing various roles, such as story time, singing songs, and nap time. You can also switch roles, so that your child becomes the teacher, which will help them see school as a fun place, thus reducing their anxiety on the first day.

Decorate children's pens with motivational phrases

You can decorate children's pens with a range of motivational phrases that encourage them to return to school and give them a sense of distinction.

First Day of School Medal

Give this medal to your child on their first day of school as a way to motivate them to go to school, and to reward them for their accomplishments on this special day.

Talk to your child about the approaching start of school

If you encourage your child to go to school, the first day will be full of excitement. Talking to your child is one of the most important ways to positively influence him in a short period of time, so parents should talk to him in a fun way about the approaching school year, while reminding him of the fun activities and school trips that will be held. This will help motivate the child and make him count the days until the start of school. Discussion may also give you the opportunity to discover any problems or challenges the child faced in the previous school year, such as bullying by his classmates. This is an ideal opportunity for parents to communicate with the school and resolve any issues before the start of the new school year.

"First Day of School" Crown

Enjoy this fun activity with your children when the school year begins. These crowns are a great keepsake for their first day at school, adding a special touch to their educational experience.

**Back to School Activities: Puzzle - What I Love About My Classroom**

These activities are a great way to encourage children to express themselves at the beginning of the school year, and highlight the importance of their love for their school and classroom.

**Children's Name Stickers: Ready to Print for School Supplies**

 

These stickers can be printed in preparation for the start of the school year, as the child's name can be written on them, in addition to the name of the subject and the class. These posters feature a variety of designs in bright colors and attractive shapes, which will delight children and help prevent them from losing their belongings at school.

**Back to School Activity Booklet: I'm Back to School**

Parents can use the Back to School Activity Booklet to introduce their students to their school and teachers, test their social interaction and understanding of adult roles in their school environment. The booklet also helps break the ice between students and their teachers.

**Regulating Bedtimes**

Parents tend to be lax about bedtimes during the summer vacation, as many of them allow their children to stay up longer. Family activities, visits and events increase, and most of them often take place in the evening. Therefore, it is important for parents to organize their children's bedtimes at least a week in advance. They can wake the child up earlier than usual during the summer, and take him outside to do a certain activity, which helps to distract him until it is time for his early bedtime. Here are some important tips for organizing your child's sleep times in preparation for school:

- Avoid making early bedtime seem like a punishment

- Gradually wake your child up, by moving his wake-up time forward an hour each day until the desired time is reached.

- Your child should get enough sleep, because not doing so may lead to his behavior becoming nervous in response to his discomfort.

Reduce the intake of foods that may keep the child active and awake.

Establish a regular routine for setting sleep times, which helps organize sleep times.

**Visit the school with your child**

If possible, try to take your child on a tour of his new school before school starts. Spend some time together playing in the schoolyard and exploring the classrooms. This will help make the school a familiar place for your child when it comes time for his first day.

The goal of visiting the school before the first day is to enhance the child's feeling of comfort and familiarity with the new place. When the child gets to know the school in advance and enjoys playing in its yard and exploring the classrooms, he will feel more confident on his first day. This will help reduce the stress and anxiety that a child may face when entering a new and unfamiliar environment. 

Points to consider when starting the school year

With the start of the school year, parents are responsible for a number of important matters that should be taken into consideration. Here are some of these points:

Celebrating the start of the new school year

Make the first day of the school year a special occasion, so that your children feel that returning to school is an enjoyable experience. The day before school starts, organize a party full of cakes, balloons, and educational gifts! Don't forget to take a picture of your child on the balcony on his first day in school uniform, to make a great start to a new school year! 

Preparing the contents of the school lunch bag

Arranging the child's lunch box in an attractive way is an important factor in encouraging the child to eat, which makes parents pay special attention to this aspect. Therefore, they tend to buy a variety of kitchen tools from homeware stores, which help in forming sandwiches, vegetables, and fruits in innovative ways. The process of preparing a lunch box daily can be exhausting, especially with parents' desire to avoid repeating meals and choose healthy and nutritious options. So, parents can prepare school lunch boxes in advance and work with the children to choose meals for the whole week, which helps avoid morning chaos and ensures that the child is not surprised by an unexpected meal at school. 

Incorporate an activity during school time

The school season should not be limited to school only, but it is important to incorporate an activity that the child enjoys into his daily schedule. This can be achieved byRegister him in places that offer recreational activities for children, taking into account the times that fit into their busy school schedule. It is important for parents to know their child’s interests through the steps of discovering and developing the child’s talent before deciding to register him in any activity that may not interest him, as this may negatively affect his psychological state.

Talk freely about the pressures of the first week of school

Teach your child how to recognize his feelings and express them appropriately, as this will help him face the emotional challenges he may face at school. For example, reassure him that feeling nervous in the first days of school is normal, and explain to him that teachers may feel this way sometimes too, which enhances his ability to control his feelings. In addition, the child should be encouraged to express his fears, as you can share stories about your childhood experiences and talk to him about situations that make him anxious. If your child is worried about not knowing who will sit next to him or who will talk to him on his first day, help him develop plans and strategies that he can mentally practice, so that he is ready when the time comes.

Stimulating curiosity and desire to learn in children

Stimulating curiosity and desire to learn in children when they return to school is essential to enhance their passion for knowledge and acquire new skills. This can be achieved by creating an environment that encourages them to ask questions and explore ideas. You can also participate in discussions on various topics and provide multiple resources such as books and educational games that interest them. In addition, showing enthusiasm for their knowledge and encouraging them to explore boosts their self-confidence and motivates them to strive to acquire more knowledge over time.

**How ​​to support children in studying**

 

Many students face academic difficulties when the school year begins, as the transition from summer vacation to the school routine is a challenge in itself. Here are some tips to help children overcome these challenges:

1. **Allocate a daily time for studying**: It is essential to set a specific time every day for studying, away from any sources of distraction.

2. **Use interactive educational tools**: Educational applications or videos can contribute to making the study process more fun and engaging.

3. **Positive motivation**: Encourage the child by offering simple rewards when he achieves academic achievements.

Ways to encourage the child to participate in class

It is important to avoid using harsh words with the child, and to respect his personality. Negative words may lead to the child's regression due to the psychological pressures he is exposed to, and do not contribute to his progress. Therefore, positive words should be directed that express acceptance of the child regardless of his condition, while assuring him that we are here to support him and increase his self-confidence, which helps him develop psychologically.

There should be continuous communication with the teachers concerned with the child directly. It is necessary to follow up on the relationship between parents, teachers and educational staff as soon as the child's lack of participation in class is noticed. Meeting with the teaching staff and observing the child's behavior at home and school and comparing them is important to understand the gaps and work to address them.

The child's interests should also be followed up and our interest in them should be shown indirectly, by communicating with the school and giving him the opportunity to talk about them and participate in them, and collecting information and pictures related to them. This gradual participation will help break the barrier of fear and shyness in him.

It is important to avoid discussing the child's weaknesses to avoid embarrassing him, and instead focus on the positive aspects and activities that he loves and wants to practice regularly, whether at home or with his friends at school. This helps the child feel comfortable, which makes him more willing to participate, even if it is in a simple way, and over time, this part will increase as his confidence in talking about his interests increases.

The child should be supported away from the pressures he may be exposed to at home, while providing a calm environment that makes the home a comfortable place for him. This will help him regain his self-confidence thanks to the availability of comfortable tools and methods for learning, which enhances his participation in the classroom and gives him a sense of distinction and increases his self-confidence.

The focus should be on the child's achievements while enhancing the parents' confidence in those achievements and talking about them positively at school. Through this, what the child has achieved at school can be invested, which allows him to participate in activities related to those achievements. This method is considered an effective way to engage the child, so the family should realize the best that the child can offer and focus on it at home and school.

It is also recommended to watch educational cultural programs that carry special messages, focusing on topics that address human capabilities and what distinguishes them from others. Through this, the child learns about the differences between people and learns how to be unique in what he does.