How to get your child excited for the first day of school

Whether your child is rounding out primary school or they're just about to start Junior Infants, we've got some top tips to get them prepped for the new term.

Summer is drawing to an end, back to school is on the horizon, and many parents and children may be feeling overwhelmed about the upcoming term.

With growing to-do lists, it's easy to get swept up in the back to school preparation, without remembering to check in on our own child's feelings. It's likely that they might be feeling just as over-whelmed!

To help foster a positive attitude in your child this back to school season, we've teamed up with our friends at HelloFresh to bring you some top tips on getting ready for back-to-school. So, whether your child is rounding out primary school, or they're just about to start Junior Infants, we've got some words of wisdom to help get them excited for a fresh school year.

Get into a good routine early

It might not sound like the best way to get a child pumped for the new school year, but the truth is that it will be easier for your child to be excited if they're well rested. As the summer ends, make sure they're going to bed early and rising at a sensible time so that when they do have to get up for school, it won't be such a shock to the system!

Reconnect with friends

As the new term approaches, touch base with your child's friends' parents and organise some play-dates so that your child remembers the important social aspect of school.

Give them a say

As you tick items off your to-do list, let your child have a say where possible. If you're planning extra-curricular activities, for instance, let their own interests lead the way. Or, have a chat about the kind of food they'd like to see in their lunchbox!

Pepper their week with activities they love

Plan some great activities to help let off some of those back-to-school jitters. You don't have to get too fancy for this – sometimes a trip to the park, a bike ride or an ice-cream outing will do the trick! You can also plan to make their favourite dinner so they'll have a tasty meal to look forward to. Looking for some cooking inspiration? Check out HelloFresh where you'll find heaps of kid-friendly recipes to suit all palettes.