Kids and school were (almost) the only two topics my girlfriends and I discussed last night over dinner. The beginning of the school year is a hot issue talked about by mothers all over the world especially by the ones who are new to the circle. When it comes to under 6s tears are unavoidable no matter what you do but there are ways to work around the sudden change, slowly and steadily. These tips have helped make our mornings easier.
1. Early bedtime: This, I believe, is essential to a happy and healthy child. Late nights and early mornings can make anyone cranky and uncooperative so work on an early bedtime to avoid a fussy toddler. For your information: On average, children between the ages of 3 and 6 require a minimum of 10 hours of sleep.
2. Involve them in snack decisions: I ask Georgie the night before what he would prefer. He gets to choose between two options both for snacks and lunch. I feel it feeds the independence he is experiencing with pre-school and makes him feel he is part of the decisions being made.It makes my life easier when the fridge and pantry aren’t always fully stocked too.
3. Talk about school but not too much: I’ve found that Georgie isn’t always eager to reply to the typical How was school question. I’m not sure why but I prefer not to push him. Instead I choose to receive all the answers to my questions from his teachers.
4. Find something they especially like about school and use it as a focal point: Since day 3, Georgie has shown a significant interest in the friends he has made at school. That he talks about often. Therefore, every morning we talk about all his friends/classmates and I can immediately see the excitement in his eyes.
5. Do not linger: No matter how much I want to stay with him, I don’t hang around longer than I have to. I say hello to his teachers as well as his little friends, lean in for a quick kiss and dash out. I have never snuck out and always fully explain how the day will progress and when I will be picking him up. ‘I’ll be back to pick you up when you’ve finished having lunch with your friends.’ Up until now, it works.
