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Preparation is the key to success

This is a great way to cut stress with school generally. Try and make sure that everything you can possibly prepare beforehand is done. Some things can be done months in advance, some things you can do weeks in advance and other things can be done the night before. Parents are not known for having many quiet moments, but if you do a little work on this each day, you'll soon find you're making headway. Encourage your child to join in with preparations in a way that is age-appropriate. You can't prepare for every eventuality - but you can prepare for many of the challenges you'll encounter on the day and if you are ready for those you'll have more energy and head space to deal with the unexpected.

Make sure you budget properly for school uniform and school supplies. Buy products and equipment in bulk wherever you can and put them in a store for safekeeping so you're not taken by surprise and stressed out by those last-minute expenses that you haven't bargained for. Buy yourself a mid-term calender and put it on the wall in a prominent place. Plan your children's lunches if you can. Train your children from an early age to help you out in the house - you need them to learn to put their clothes and shoes back in the right place. Teach them about your planning system - how it works and how important it is to exchange information about school and events which might be planned: one mother I know tells her children: 'If it ain't on the list, it don't exist!' Make sure school transport is sorted. Get your bicycle or car serviced in plenty of time. Have you charged up your cell phone?

Cut yourself some slack

When the big day arrives, cut yourself some slack. If possible, try not to take on major projects during the first week and give 'Superwoman' a few days off. Plan a beauty treatment for yourself, get your hair done - fall back on ready meals for the first week of school until the family adjusts to term-time routines again. Try to prepare yourself mentally as far as you can. You want the transition to school to be as peaceful and constructive as possible.

Keep yourself well

If your child is making the transition to school for the first time, you're going to have different and perhaps ambivalent feelings about that. You might feel relieved at having more time to yourself, or you might be overcome by feelings of sadness. Be sure to stay well and keep your friends and family support system intact. Phone a friend regularly. Eat stress-busting foods and stay away from too much alcohol and caffeine.

Learn more about this author, Frances Laing.
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