10 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Before we know it, the school bell will be ringing and it will be all systems go for the new school year. To help you get ready, we’ve put together a list of top 10 tips to make going back to school a breeze for you and your children.

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1. STOCK UP ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Complete your child’s school shopping before the back-to-school rush. Take your stationery list to the stores, and stock up on everything from flip files, pencils and backpacks. Jet has a variety of backpacks ­– from fun unicorn prints to trolley bags. Keep an eye out for our bulk deals where you can get a free water bottle with your backpack.

2. GET A HEAD START
Avoid the stress and early morning rush and prepare yourself for the next day. To help cut the chaos, complete all your preparations the night before and sleep peacefully knowing you’re halfway sorted for the morning. Being ready for a school morning makes a huge difference and gives your family a great head start to the day.



3. BE PREPARED
Set out school clothes the night before. If your child is not wearing school uniform yet, mornings can be frantic in deciding what to wear. Avoid the decision making in the morning by setting out the clothes based on the weather of course and make getting dressed in the morning a complete breeze. With older kids, set out the uniform as well as their extramural activities clothes. Did you know you could pick up a school uniform for under 100.00 at Jet? We also have vests, briefs, belts and hair accessories – your whole uniform sorted!



4. CREATE A MORNING SCHEDULE
Set out wake-up times, set alarms for all the kids and put together a schedule of what needs to be done from the time of waking up to leaving the house for school. Having a solid morning routine helps to create the structure for the whole year.



5. BREAKFAST IS BEST
Eat a healthy breakfast. School going kids need a nutritious breakfast so that they are ready mentally and physically to take on the day. Incorporate healthy options in their meals and lunchboxes, such as apples, bananas and whole grains. These will give them added energy and be fully alert throughout the day. Pack lunch the previous night to avoid a stressful morning – Jet has fun Spiderman and Frozen lunch boxes. Don’t miss out on our 4 of 2 promo on selected lunchboxes!



6. HOMEWORK HELPERS
Create a homework station. Create a designated homework area for all your children. This section should be a quiet area with no distractions where all the kids sit and complete their homework after school. This will help them to follow the system of school life and build a firm homework routine.

7. TURN OFF THE TELLY
Set out dedicated TV time. Find a time where kids can watch TV once all their homework is done. Most children are used to watching TV and taking it away from them completely can cause grumpiness and frustration. Explain and emphasise which times are for homework, chores and TV.

8. B IS FOR BOOKS
Read every day. Learning should not stop at school only. Each day dedicate at least 30 minutes to sit with your child and read together. This will help to keep them engaged with learning and schoolwork. Check out this article to see how you can get your kids excited about reading.

9. LIGHTS OUT
Stick to a bedtime routine. The school holidays were over a month-long and some kids have gone completely off their bedtime routines. It’s the beginning of the year and their young minds need plenty of sleep to be ready to learn in the morning. Don’t let your kids stay up late on school days, and set bedtime and lights out time.

10. AFTER-CARE
Prepare for the unexpected. For working parents, it can be challenging to set up an after school plan, especially for much younger kids. Before school reopens, it’s a good idea to have a game plan in place of who will look after the kids before you get back from work. Research after-care places or after school programmes in your area or organise with a trusted neighbour to look after them before you return from work.

TIP FOR SCHOOL FIRST-TIMERS
Take time to prepare your anxious children for school. Prior to school starting, take a tour of the school, meet the teachers and get your little one familiar with the new environment. It will help your child adjust on their first day at school and prevent the tears from being left alone in a strange place.

Download the SA Schools Calendar for 2020 here

To view more of our Jet back to schools specials click here!

Learn more about the Jet Club Education benefit here!