What Can I do to Ensure my Child has a Good Day at School? ALL PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILD TO BE HAPPY IN THE SCHOOL THEY CHOOSE FOR THEM. WHAT SOME PARENTS MAY NOT REALISE IS THAT EVERY FAMILY CAN PLAY A ROLE IN HOW THEIR CHILD SETTLES AT SCHOOL AND CONTINUES TO FLOURISH.
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t is wonderful as a parent to feel empowered. Here are some guidelines: Ensure that your child has a good night’s sleep. Children up to Grade 6 should be in bed by 8pm and sleeping by 8:30pm. This can be a big struggle for some families for many different reasons. For working parents, it can be taxing to tick all the boxes in a small amount of time. A good nighttime routine can take about 14 days to become a habit, so do not give up! It could look like this: Dinner, wind down time with a de-stressing play time, bath
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time, story time (maximum two stories) and a cuddle and kiss and then lights out or dimmed and sleep time. Be strict about regular routine. Try to keep surprises or “out of the ordinary” for birthdays and celebrations only and keep their routines predictable and consistent. Routine makes children feel safe! Insist that your child eats a good breakfast. A car requires petrol and a body requires nutrition. When chatting to teachers they will often tell you how some children can really struggle to settle in to their day and
suddenly after break they are more tuned in and ready for work. This is simply because they have been hungry and grumpy all morning. Some families do have to leave home very early. A snack-type breakfast can still give your child what they require. A health bar, bowl of berries or even a boiled egg can still kick start your child’s nutrition for the day. Be punctual. Coming late to school can be incredibly stressful for your child. When a family is late it already means that the morning has been a frazzled one where everyone rushes around and everyone is feeling stressed. For a young Grade 1 to arrive to the class once everyone has already been settled, and have to make a “grand entrance” can be very daunting. Especially to a child that is very shy. Pack a balanced lunch, even if it’s not the school’s requirements. Berries are great - low in sugar and great for brainpower. Add some protein and a healthy
