Back-to-School Survival Guide for New Parents
The back-to-school season is an exciting time for young parents and their children. At the thought of your baby taking their first steps at daycare, with a childminder, or in preschool, you oscillate between stress and excitement. The big day is approaching, and our back-to-school survival guide is here to accompany you through this thrilling adventure. Back-to-school survival guide for new parents. From pre-term preparation to managing the first few days, discover how to create an environment conducive to learning, to your child's well-being… and your own.
Get back to a normal routine
Ah, the holidays — that space-time rift where you even forget what time it is. Late bedtimes, shifted lunches, approximate naps… To ease back into a routine and get some rest before September, shift your entire day by 15 minutes at a time until you return to your normal schedule, especially at bedtime. And during the first days back, don't hesitate to put baby to bed earlier, because daycare, school, or the childminder can be exhausting. We even know some babies who come out of daycare completely wiped out and… need a little nap.
Take your time
Whether for the settling-in period at daycare or with the childminder, you have surely set aside the necessary time. Our advice? Don't underestimate the start of preschool either. Again, if you can, take the day off to accompany your child calmly in the morning, without stress. Repeat the process at pick-up time — little ones will be happy to see you… and so will you! Right, here comes the first evening rush of the school year.
Plan your child's care
An exceptional meeting, a delayed train, your 6 p.m. yoga class… Who will pick up your child tonight? Plan ahead — a babysitter, a trusted neighbor, family, an older sibling… even for unexpected situations.
Read back-to-school books
Reading is a bit like music — it soothes the soul. Prepare for the big day and help little ones understand what's coming, with lovely bedtime stories to read before falling asleep. Here are a few books to add to your library:
- See You Tonight, by Jeanne Ashbé
- T'choupi rentre à l'école.
- Maman à l'école, by Éric Veillé and Pauline Martini
Also, explain to your child what to expect, how their days will unfold, and stay positive as you guide them through this first back-to-school experience.
Prepare their things
The evening before, prepare their things and their backpack with a change of clothes, their comfort toy, their swaddle blanket with your scent, their transitional object. For older children starting school or preschool, the key word is learning independence. Choose easy-to-remove clothing (forget suspenders, belts, and overalls…), show them how to wash their hands, put on their shoes or coat... Of course, your child will be assisted by the classroom aide at school, but the idea is to teach them to do things on their own, little by little. We've also spotted a fun game to help teach morning and evening routines at home. One more step toward independence…
Zen parent, zen baby
We know that the back-to-school period is often very stressful for parents. Those first hours when you leave your baby at daycare or in the arms of the childminder, just like the first drop-off at school. Hold back your tears and keep your anxiety to yourself! While both of these feelings are completely normal, it's better to keep a cool head and not frighten your child. Baby is crying? Don't panic — once the door is closed, children generally find their smile again quickly.
The Charlie Crane team
