Back to School: Routines and The Autumn Term

Did the summer holidays flash by for you or did they feel endless? For us, at Cardiff and Vale Tutors, it feels as though we have blinked and suddenly it’s mid-September and children have gone back to school; the roads are busier in the mornings, the days are getting shorter and some of us may feel less rested and more exhausted now, than we did before the summer holidays. So, what now? How do we get back into healthy and useful routines? If you are wondering this too, read on and see what ideas we have for a positive return to school.

The Importance of Sleep

Teachers all over the country will be seeing students slumped at their desks with eyes barely open, therefore once again, we must mention how vital sleep is. On average, teenagers should sleep around 9 to 10[1] hours per night, but unfortunately that is rare for most young people. Although this isn’t the only factor which disturbs the sleep of children and teenagers, devices such as games consoles, tablets, mobile devices and TVs can massively contribute to sleep problems. The NHS suggests that these devices are turned off at least an hour before bedtime, as they emit blue light, which disturbs the production of melatonin (a hormone which helps control sleep patterns). These devices can also make sleep seem less enticing and necessary because the applications on them are often designed to keep the user drawn into it for hours on end. Therefore, swapping late night gaming or social media scrolling to other activities such as colouring or reading, will not only ensure your child goes to sleep on time, but also may improve the overall quality of the sleep they are having.

[1] ‘Sleep routines for young people and teenagers’. https://cambspborochildrenshealth.nhs.uk/sleep/healthy-sleep-routines/sleep-routines-for-young-people-and-teenagers/

Pack the Night Before

We have all been here before; a missed alarm and a mad rush trying to find clean socks and school uniform that isn’t covered with last night’s dinner. Then, your child tells you that they need to bring in ingredients for a cooking lesson or that they needed to make a castle out of recycled cardboard for a D.T project. The best way to avoid this is to prepare everything the night before. Now, it may seem tedious and many children will possibly despise doing this, however, long-term it’s a great skill to have for the future and will save a lot of morning stress for everyone.

Depending on your child’s age, you will be able to determine the amount of responsibility to want to bestow upon them. For example, if your child is 6 years old, their evening task could be clearing out their bag, ready for it to be re-packed for the next day with an adult’s help. For older children, they may have to pack their own P.E kit, books and school equipment, which can be later checked by an adult. For teenagers, that can be challenged, they can be in charge of washing their own uniform – or at the very least, be involved in one aspect of weekend laundry such as folding and putting clean clothes away.

Take Things One Step at a Time

You might be feeling overwhelmed already as parents and carers often feel more tired after the summer holidays, than before them. Thus, when September hits, things tend to not slow down but rather keep picking up the pace. There is absolutely nothing wrong with needing to take things one step at a time; one day at a time. Instead of putting on a mountain of pressure on your shoulders, to get everything perfect all at once, try adding one tiny thing onto your routine, and build it slowly.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, or if your child is coming home from school and is beginning to struggle with an increased homework load, or if it’s become evident that there are some gaps in learning in certain subjects, then please do reach out to us. At Cardiff & Vale Tutors, we not only have experienced teachers across various subjects who are able to accept new students, but we also have tutors who can offer general coaching and can teach young people organisation skills and ways to cope with an increased school workload.

Summary

• A consistent bedtime and wake up time will support children to have an adequate amount of sleep.

• Set time to ‘wind down’ and switch off technology

• Get school equipment, uniform and lunch prepared the night before.

• Give your child an age-appropriate amount of responsibility in getting themselves school-day ready.

• If your child is beginning to struggle in any subjects, it’s better to reach out to a tutor sooner rather than later.

• Cardiff & Vale Tutors can also support with general coaching and teach organisational skills.

We hope you have gained some new insights or had a reminder of some key ideas that can help you get back into a steady September routine. We wish everyone a lovely autumn term and look forward to working with new students!

This Blog was Written By Aleksandra Dul – QTS English Language and Literature Teacher

Do take a look at earlier blogs:

Screentime and Back-To-School Routines – Cardiff Vale Tutors

The Importance of Sleep and Nutrition for GCSE Students – Cardiff Vale Tutors

Establishing a Routine to Help with Exam Pressure – Cardiff Vale Tutors