How to prepare your child in 6 steps for the new academic year?

It’s back-to-school season so it's time to get ready for a fresh new start. At Amity Amsterdam, we believe proper planning and preparation are vital for a successful educational experience.  To ensure a bright future, it is crucial for families to equip their children with the necessary skills and readiness to seize the opportunities that await them. In this blog, we will explore six tips that could be helpful for children to be prepared for a successful academic year.

 

1.     Visit the school building and the campus

If your child is already familiar with the school, it could be easier to make them feel ready. You can start by explaining that their classroom will change, their teachers could vary, or their lunch hours will be different at the cafeteria if they are moving from Primary to Senior School.

If it is your child’s first year at Amity Amsterdam, we believe that it is important to familiarise them with the school as it could make them feel more comfortable on their first day. For this, we encourage you to schedule a school tour with our Admissions team. During the tour, you and your child can visit the classrooms and see our libraries and subject-specific classrooms such as Music, Drama and Design. By going to the playground, you’d see how your child will bond with their new peers at Amity Amsterdam. The more your child knows about the school, the less they’ll be afraid of the unknown.

2.     Prepare the uniform and school supplies

 Some children feel more comfortable when they are organised and know what their uniform will look and feel like on the first day of school. Make sure to order Amity Amsterdam’s uniform well before school starts and try it at home to reduce anxiety on the first day.

You could take your children to a stationery store and help them choose additional school notebooks, water bottles, pens and other necessary materials for their lessons. A week before school starts, you could help your child pack their bag every other day. This could be a very effective way for them to develop a routine for packing the school bag and wearing the uniform on their own in the morning. 

3.     Adjust your schedule

Getting used to the new routine after the summer break can take a while to adjust to. To reduce the uncertainty and to make them feel ready for the next academic year, make sure to gradually adjust their schedule. During the summer, children tend to stay up late, enjoy lie-ins and eat at different times than normal. However, once school starts, they have to wake up early, be at school at a certain time and be active during classes. Therefore, it can be very beneficial to start transitioning your child to the school routine a few weeks before school starts. You can help them adjust their bedtime and wake them up at the same time every day.

4.     Help them set goals

Setting goals for the upcoming academic year is a great way to prepare your child for school. It will help them stay motivated, excited and will provide them with a sense of direction. You could sit down with your child in a comfortable setting and discuss what they are looking forward to and ask about their aspirations for the upcoming year. This could be achieving good grades in science, participating more in mathematics, trying new co-curricular activities, or making new friends. You could even encourage them to write down their goals so they can perform a self-reflection later during the school year.

5.     Create a supportive environment

As you help them set goals for the upcoming school year, it is also important to create a supportive environment at home. This will play a significant role in your child's academic success. You could start by asking them about their aspirations, dreams and fears. If your child struggled with a particular subject or topic last year, it is important to make them feel you will be there for them when needed. For this, you could help them refresh their memory and catch up with the subjects from last year by reading books or reviewing their previous year’s projects.

6.     Prioritize self-care and well-being

Since going back to school can be a stressful event for the whole family, it’s important that children create a worry-free and balanced school life for themselves. This can be done by prioritising your child's well-being and self-care routines and encouraging them to instil healthy habits such as sufficient sleep, nutritious meals, lots of vitamin D, and regular exercise. Help your child find relaxation techniques such as mindfulness exercises or hobbies they enjoy.

A great way to explore new hobbies can be involvement in co-curricular activities. CCAs can also foster personal growth, leadership skills, and social connections. To learn more about CCAs, please click here.

 

So, after a long summer break, with the right preparation and support from the parents and the school community, our children will be ready to succeed in all areas of their personal growth. We can set the foundation for a rewarding educational experience and together, we can embark on this exciting journey for our children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Here's to an unforgettable year ahead!