How can I best support my child or young person?
Practical tips to set yourself and your child or young person up for the best school days.
Need to know
- Going to school every day gives your child or young person every chance to learn and grow and connect with their friends and teachers.
- From creating a morning routine to celebrating their wins, there are many ways to help support your child or young person.
There’s no doubt about it – we all want the best for our children and young people and for their futures to be as bright as possible.
Going to school every day gives your child or young person every chance to learn and grow and connect with their friends and teachers. School is where they will benefit the most and there are lots of things you can do to support your child or young person.
Tips to help make school days run smoother
Below you will find tips for you and your child that can be used in your family.
Create a routine.
Help your child maintain daily routines such as having breakfast, finishing homework and packing their school bag the night before with everything they need.
Give yourself and your child enough time.
Just having a bit of breathing space around morning tasks can make a big difference to getting out the door on time – including getting dressed and packing lunches or buying it from the school canteen.
Be on time, every day. Monday to Friday.
They say it takes two months for our brains to create a new habit. So just take it a day at a time. Make sure you take a moment to recognise the wins.
Refuel and stay hydrated throughout the day.
Help your child or young person pack lunch the night before. Ensure they take a drink bottle to school and if your school has a breakfast club or lunch program – encourage them to get involved! Being hungry can affect concentration and motivation.
Get a good night’s sleep all of you.
It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do to help your child or young person learn and stay engaged with school.
Set some technology boundaries.
We are all familiar with endlessly scrolling, only to feel exhausted and unmotivated. Why not give a family tech agreement a go?
Schedule appointments and holidays outside of school hours.
This way your child or young person will stay engaged in their learning and won’t miss out on important schoolwork.
Talk to your child about school and how important it is.
You can ask them how they feel about school, what they like and if there are any problems.
Encourage and celebrate good attendance habits with your child.
Including arriving to school on time every day.
Set a good example.
Show them how you keep to your own commitments.
Encourage your child to take on hobbies that they enjoy such as sports and clubs.
This will help them develop positive relationships outside of the classroom setting.
Talk about seeing their friends and having fun.
Talk about the benefits of seeing their friends and classmates. Even travelling to school with friends can be part of the fun.
