By now your little ones are probably one or even two weeks into their new school lives, and we sincerely hope all is going well! But how are YOU coping? Adjusting to a new routine can be difficult, especially is this is your first child at school! The early days of the new term can be hard for all involved, so it makes sense to take steps to ensure the transition from home to school goes as smoothly as possible. This time we’ve put together a few tips to help little ones settle into the new term, with a little help from some lovely bloggers. Do let us know how it’s going.

Be prepared for tiredness

 Being at school all day is likely to be hugely different to your child’s usual routine, so it’s natural for them to be a little more tired than normal. This is to be expected, and by now you’re probably only too well aware of how exhausting school can be. Some children find it more exhausting than others, but only you know your child best so take your cues from them during this first term. If you need to move bedtime a little earlier, then please do. It’s important that your child gets enough sleep to see them through the busy days ahead!

Some children also find it harder to switch off once they start school, and their tiredness can manifest in other ways. Perhaps your little one is finding it harder to fall asleep at bedtime? A relaxing bath and a good solid bedtime routine will help.

Beth, who blogs at Twinderelmo told us, “My girls have been going to bed about an hour earlier than usual as they’re so tired. At the weekends too I let my older son lie in until he naturally wakes as I want him to get a rest too. We avoid doing anything that means we need to be up and out early as we all adjust to the school routine,” and we think this is great advice.

Tread carefully

As your little one is more tired than usual, and likely to be a little more ‘temperamental’ shall we say, it’s a really good idea to tread a little more carefully when it comes to behaviour. Remember that your child has a lot of changes to adapt to, and many find the transition to school really quite difficult.

Laura, who blogs at Little Ladies Big World, advises, “Don’t ask too much of them after school and treat meltdowns with kindness. If mine are tired we read books, play puzzles and have cuddles. Being 100% there in the moment really helps everyone feel supported in those first few weeks of change.”

 Slow down after school

 Your child has spent all day being directed by adults, and so after school is the time to allow them to slow down. You’ll know by now how tiring the school day can be during this first term, so try not to plan too many activities until your child has adapted.

Gillian, at A Baby on Board told us that she tries not to schedule too much at weekends either, preferring to use this time to re-charge and prepare for another busy week ahead. She told us, “School is more exhausting for children than you’d think and they need as much downtime as possible in the evenings and at weekends,” and we couldn’t agree more.

Yes, it’s tempting to sign your child up for every after-school activity you always dreamed they would love, but honestly, it really is best to wait a while.

Sarah-Jayne at Keep Up With the Jones Family adds, “We have a get-home-from-school routine. It’s simple but it works – in from school, shoes in cupboard, all clothes on my bed, homework on table and lunch boxes in kitchen. That way I can follow all three of them around, after they’ve done each and tidy up. 15 minutes and we are ready to relax and play – and I’m ready for the next day!”- a great tip!

Make mealtimes count

 It’s hard to let go when your child starts school, and one thing that many parents worry about is whether or not their child is going to eat ok. Suffice to say, many children either won’t remember what they had for lunch, or were too busy playing to take any notice! Don’t take it to heart. Talk to your child’s teacher if you’re really concerned, but our advice would be to trust that the lunch time staff are capable of ensuring your child eats something at least!

That said, it’s a really good idea to make sure that your child is eating a varied and balanced diet at home. A good breakfast is essential and will enable your child to perform well at school. And don’t forget snacks!

Kate at Counting to Ten says her top tip is to always “Bring a snack with you for pickup. It can be a long time since they had lunch and nobody wants a hungry child.” Wise words!