Back to school

It is the end of August and very nearly the end of the summer holidays and time to think about the children going back to school or, in my case, starting school.

A page on the BBC website lists 8 reasons why going back to school is cool. For some children it will be a time they look forward to. They often feel more confident in a new school uniform, with a new bag and new stationery and it is a time when they can catch up with old friends.

For others who don’t enjoy being at school, whether it’s because they aren’t confident with their abilities and struggle or due to being picked on and bullied, this is the time when parents should sit down and talk to their children. If your child is anxious about going back to school then talking things through with them may help. Issues like bullying may not have been apparent before but as the first day of school draws near you may notice your child becoming more withdrawn and feigning illness. If you are concerned that you child is being bullied that you can speak to their teacher and ask them to monitor the situation for you and ensure that your child isn’t being excluded or picked on in any way.

If you are a child that has been bullied and is worried about returning to school then there are people who can help you. If you feel you can’t speak with your parents or teachers then you can speak to ChildLine on 0800 1111. It is totally confidential.

Hopefully starting school or returning to school will be problem free but there are some things that parents can do to help ease the transition. The Times website has published their top 8 tips for returning to school. Some of the top tips include:

Start finding your routine again - often during the school holidays the normal daytime routines go out of the window. In the week leading up to the start of school ensure that you get your child back into their normal daytime and nighttime routine. This will help to ensure that they don’t get too tired at school.
Try to prepare in advance- don’t leave buying school uniform and stationery until the last minute. Start shopping in advance and you can hunt out all the best deals, and
Tell your child you are proud of them- this will give your child a boost and make them feel more confidnet, especially if they are starting an important school year.

Add comment August 28th, 2008

Calling all students

The BBC is looking for UK schools students to create a 60 second interpretation of Shakespeare.

I don’t know about you but I could never get to grips with Shakespeare at school and found it very difficult to be enthusiastic, so the idea of being able to watch individual interpretations is great.

The BBC says that you can interpret an act, a scene, or a theme or even a complete play (which would be a huge challenge) but it can’t be longer than 60 seconds.

For more information on the challenge and tips on how to produce a great film visit the BBC website .

It’s will be amazing to see what can be done in 60 seconds.

Add comment March 25th, 2008

Back-to-school tips

If you’ve got school-age children, then you’ll know that getting them out of the front door each morning is easier said than done. Every morning can be a real drama what with getting them washed and dressed, fed and teeth-brushed, and ready with packed lunch and other acoutrements ranging from sports equipment to homework or something to show and tell the class. With the new term looming, you may find these tips on the M&S website aimed at reducing the school-day stress helpful. There’s ten tips in all, but if I can successfully get just one or two adopted in my house then I’ll be pleased. See what you think - and please do add some tips of your own if you have any below.

Add comment August 21st, 2007