Back to School Prep—A Guide for Parents

My kids are heading to school—now what?

The Ultimate Back-to-School Prep Guide for Parents: Tips for First Timers and Kids Heading to High School

School’s back, and that means it’s time to shake off the holiday vibes and get back into the swing of things. Whether your little ones’ are heading off to school for the first time or your teen is gearing up for the big leap from primary to high school, getting ready for the new school year is no small feat. But don’t stress—it doesn’t have to be a mad rush of chaos (well, at least not too much).

From stocking up on school supplies to calming first-day jitters, we’ve rounded up the top tips to help you (and your kids) glide into the new school year like a pro.

For Parents of First-Timers: Big School, Big Emotions

Ah, the first day of school. It’s a big moment, full of excitement and, let’s be real, some nerves. Whether it’s your first time sending a kid off to kindergarten or your child’s starting at pre-school, you’re both about to embark on a whole new chapter.

🎒 Get Familiar with the School Routine It’s never too early to get your little one familiar with their new school surroundings. If your child’s school offers an orientation day, get them there! If not, connect with the school and see if you can do a walk-around together to check out the classrooms, playground, and even the drop-off zone. The more familiar they are, the less overwhelming it’ll feel.

🎒 Practice the Morning Madness The first day’s always a rush—so start getting your kid ready for the morning routine in the lead-up. Lay out uniforms the night before, pack their bag, and make sure they know where to find everything (this includes lunchboxes, hats, and school shoes!). Practising the routine a couple of days ahead will ease the chaos on the actual day.

🌟 Tip: Do a practice drop-off a few days ahead. Take your child for a walk, drive or on public transport (whichever way you’d take) to their new school so you can both feel comfortable with the ‘school run’. Make it a fun morning out by exploring the local area and maybe picking up a snack at the local cafe if there’s one nearby.

🎒 Talk About Their Feelings It’s totally normal for your kid to be a bit anxious about their first day. Talk to them about how they’re feeling—are they excited, nervous, or maybe a little of both? Let them know it’s OK to feel all sorts of things and that everyone—parents included—gets butterflies before starting something new.

🌟 Want more resources on how to help kids ease into their first day of school? Check out this handy guide from the QLD government here.

🎒 Set Realistic Expectations The first few weeks might be a bit bumpy. Maybe they’ll be clingy, maybe they’ll struggle with new routines, and maybe there will be tears (from both of you!). Set realistic expectations and remind yourself that adjusting to school takes time, so be patient. By the end of term one, they’ll be a school pro.

For Parents of Teens Heading to High School: Welcome to the Big League

The leap from primary to high school is a whole new world, and it’s not just a change for your teen—it’s a shift for you too. The classes are bigger, the timetable’s different, and suddenly your child is navigating a whole new social scene. But don’t worry, they’ll get the hang of it—and so will you.

📚 Encourage Open Chats High school is a whole new ballgame, and it can stir up a lot of nerves. Have a real conversation with your teen about how they’re feeling—whether it’s excitement about the freedom or anxiety about making new friends. Let them know it’s OK to feel a bit lost at first. Everyone goes through it. Being able to talk through their fears will make them feel way more at ease.

📚 Get Them Comfortable with the School If you haven’t already, take a walk through the high school grounds before the term starts. Most schools offer orientation days where Year 7s can familiarise themselves with the layout, meet some of their teachers, and ease into their new environment. If your school doesn’t have an official one, try to scout it out together so they at least know where their classrooms, lockers, and the cafeteria are.

📚 Get Organised for the New Workload High school means more homework, assignments, and exams—so help your teen get organised early. If space permits, set up a study station at home with everything they need: pens, notebooks, a quiet space, and maybe a plant to add some zen to the mix. Get them into the habit of using a planner to track homework, assignments, and important dates. Help them build a solid routine that includes time for study, social activities, and relaxation.

📚Talk About Social Media and Cyber Safety With high school comes an increase in screen time. Have a frank conversation about responsible social media use, cyberbullying, and keeping boundaries online. It’s vital they know that they can come to you if anything feels off. The digital world is just as important as the real world, so set some ground rules for both.

🌟 Want more info on how to broach mobile and device use with pre-teens and teens? Check out this article on safe digital use from the Raising Kids Network.

📚 Navigating the Social Scene The social landscape at high school can be tricky. Friendships might shift, and there’s always that ‘finding your crowd’ moment. Encourage your teen to get involved in extracurricular activities, whether it’s sport, drama, or music—it’s a great way to meet people with similar interests. And remember, this stuff takes time—teens can often feel isolated or uncertain at first, but as the weeks go on, things will settle.

🌟 Looking for info specifically for kids starting high school? Click here to read “Top tips for helping your child transition to high school”.

Back-to-School Prep Tips for All Parents: Don’t Panic, We’ve Got You

Whether your child’s starting school for the first time or heading into Year 7, back-to-school prep can be a lot. But don’t worry—we’ve got the cheat sheet to help you crush it.

✅ Sort Out the Uniforms First thing’s first: uniforms. Make sure everything’s sorted before the first bell rings. Check with the school on any uniform specifics (like shoes, hats, etc.), and don’t forget to label everything—because those shoes will definitely get mixed up. Pro tip: buy a couple of spares of the most essential items (socks, spare hats, school jumpers) to avoid any last-minute dramas.

✅ Get the School Supplies Sorted A checklist is your best friend here. Depending on your school, you may need to grab everything from stationery to books and bags. For little ones, get them involved in choosing fun supplies like notebooks or pens that they’ll actually look forward to using. For high schoolers, help them stock up on essentials like calculators, scientific kits, and subject-specific supplies. It’s all about being prepared.

✅ Create a Family Calendar (and Stick to It) School events, sport practices, after-school activities… it can get hectic. A family calendar—whether digital or paper—will keep everything in check. Have a look at the school’s term dates and key events, and add them to the calendar early. For your high schooler, encourage them to keep their own planner for homework deadlines and exam dates. It’s all about getting into the groove of staying organised.

✅ Re-establish Bedtime Routines After weeks of late nights and lazy mornings, it’s time to get back on track with those bedtime routines. Start winding down earlier a week before school starts so your child (and you!) can adjust to the school wake-up call. Make sure they’re getting enough sleep to power through the day. For teens, this is especially important to balance out homework, socialising, and downtime.

✅ Keep the Healthy Habits Going Healthy habits are key to surviving the school year. Make sure you’ve got a nutritious lunchbox routine down—incorporate a variety of easy-to-eat, healthy snacks your child loves. Getting your teen involved in packing their lunch (or giving them options) can make a big difference. And don’t forget to keep up the water intake, especially after school when they’re probably hanging out with mates or heading to sport. Want some lunch box ideas? Check out our 10 lunch ideas article here.

✅ Stay Chill and Go with the Flow The back-to-school period can be stressful, so try to stay cool under pressure. There will be hiccups (lost lunchboxes, forgotten homework, timetable chaos), but staying calm and positive is the best way to help your child feel confident. Remember, they’ve got this—and so do you.

🌟 Look for more back-to-school tips? Check out our “Back-to-school ideas: lunch bags, labels and more” article here.

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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