ECE co-teacher Miss Tilly Asafu-Adjaye offers her tips for helping children settle back into school routines after the Christmas holidays.

Returning to school after a long break such as Christmas takes a little adjustment – especially for our little students in ECE. This week, teachers in ECE have been helping students settle in again by reminding them of routines such as hanging up coats when they arrive, saying good morning to teachers, tidy-up time, and washing hands before lunch. Routines are very important for children, and ensure that there is plenty of time and structure for learning to take place. But settling in doesn’t begin and end at school – there are a few ways that parents can help children get back into the swing of school.

1. Regular bedtimes

We understand that during the holidays and travel, regular bedtimes can slip. However, regular sleep is essential for children and it’s very important to be firm with regular bedtimes when your child returns to school. Ideally, you will get them into this routine a few days before the start of school.

2. Plenty of sleep

A lot of children feel the jetlag after travelling over the holidays, and entering back into a busy school day is tiring too. Recognise that your children might need a bit more sleep in their first week back and make sure there’s time for this.

3. Keep up with routines at home

Children sleep a lot better with bedtime routines. This might include a bath before bed, a bed time story, and a period of winding down time. It’s hard for children to switch straight from play to sleep. Use routines to prepare them for bed.

Try to keep mornings consistent too – with regular wake-up time, breakfast time and routines around getting dressed and leaving the house. It puts young children at ease.

4. Come to school on time

We have our own routines in the mornings at school and they prepare our children for the day. It’s important that they don’t miss these and that they don’t arrive feeling stressed and rushed!

5. Ask about their day

Sometimes it’s hard to get an answer out of children if you ask an open-ended question such as “how was your day?” Try to be more specific by asking “who did you play with?” or “tell me something funny that happened today.” It’s a great thing talking to your child about their school day and we encourage families to discuss school life together.

A warm welcome back to all our students in ECE – and to the several new students who start ECE this semester! To find out more about our ECE, sign up for our Info Session on January 22!