Back-to-School Made Easy: 4 Tips Every Parent Needs

Back-to-School Made Easy: 4 Tips Every Parent Needs

As the new school term begins, parents often feel a mix of relief and worry. Parenting coach Camilla McGill shares four essential strategies to help your child adjust smoothly, both emotionally and practically.

• Prepare your child for drop-off with confidence.
  
• Streamline stressful morning routines.
  
• Create meaningful connection before school.
  
• Handle big after-school emotions and behaviour changes.
  
  

Camilla also answers a listener’s question on motivating a slow-moving child in the mornings, sharing relatable stories and practical advice to help you start the school year with calm, confidence, and connection.

Grab Camilla’s handy FREE guide 10 best ways to prepare for school; https://www.myparentingsolutions.com/preparingforschool

00:00 Introduction: Back to School Emotions

00:45 Meet Your Parenting Coach: Camilla McGill

01:44 Tip 1: Emotional Preparation for Drop Off

03:58 Tip 2: Simplifying the Morning Routine

06:22 Tip 3: Building Morning Connections

08:21 Tip 4: Managing Big Feelings and Behavior Changes

11:01 Recap and Listener Question

12:41 Conclusion and Podcast Promotion

Episode Transcript

🎙 Intro
You might be breathing a huge sigh of relief at the thought of your kids going back or starting school, having a bit more routine, ending the endless school holiday struggle to keep them busy,  heaving a sigh of relief to wave them off, but you might also be feeling that little knot in your stomach… Will my child be okay? Will they make friends? Will they cope with the long days again? Early mornings - eek!

And if your child is sensitive with ‘big feelings’, you might notice their feelings are just as mixed as yours - excitement one moment, tears the next.

So today, I want to give you five practical, gentle tips to make this back-to-school transition as smooth as possible, and to help you feel confident that you’re supporting your child emotionally as well as practically.

1. Prepare Emotionally, Not Just Logistically. Especially for drop-off

I remember one September morning when one of my daughters was starting in reception (that’s kindergarten for my US listeners) , she got her uniform on, had her shoes polished, her little school bag ready, and her hair tied up neatly… but within 2 minutes of arriving at school she was clinging on to me, shouting ‘don’t leave me mummy’

Whilst I know this is really common, and usually they’re fine once they’re inside the school building Looking back, I realised I’d prepared everything except her feelings.

Kids need us to help them to know what to expect

“Going to school is fun and it also feels strange, you’ve had a long holiday and you might feel worried about lots of different things - missing me, making new friends, all kinds of different new rules. When I drop you off I’m going to give you a hug and shall I say ‘I love you, goodbye, see you at the end of the day (or whenever you’ll see them next.”  If someone else is collecting them or they’re going to after school club, make it really clear

Don’t linger at drop off, it makes things much worse. Go and cry around the corner - I’ve certainly done that!

2. Make the Morning Routine as easy as you can 

You know that feeling when your alarm goes off after weeks of holiday lie-ins? It’s not pleasant… and our kids feel it too.
If you’re listening to this before school has started back, start  four or so days before term by waking everyone at school time, having breakfast, and getting dressed ready to go out. I’d also recommend you bring bedtime forward by 15 minutes each day - kids need MUCH more sleep than think they do and they use up A LOT of physical and emotional energy at school so they’ll need earlier nights.If you’re listening having started school, just keep bringing bedtime earlier every day. If you miss the sleep window, kids get over-tired and often frantic 

One mum I worked with told me that this one change completely transformed their first week. Her son arrived at school feeling like he was already in the groove, instead of grumpy and groggy and he also felt emotionally prepared.

Other tips for morning, lay the clothes out the night before and have things like bags packed, shoes by the door, breakfast table laid. Get kids involved with this as it gives them a sense of control and manages their expectations.

This one is painful and I didn’t always achieve it depending on the kind of night I had, but if you can get yourself ready first, it really helps

If you’d like more strategies to help your child settle into the new school year, grab my free guide at https://www.myparentingsolutions.com/school

3. Focus on Connection in the Mornings

Parents tell me they feel so guilty about the mornings when they feel like they’re constantly barking at their kids and nagging at them to hurry up.  I want to suggest that little emotional fuel goes a long way. Just five minutes of calm, uninterrupted time with you can really help your child face the day. Remember how long it takes to deal with the fall out of a meltdown or a big fight.
That might mean sitting together while they eat breakfast, reading a quick story, or having a silly cuddle on the sofa. This is extremely hard when we’re trying to get out to work on time, feed the baby and put a load in the washing machine. I promise that it goes a LONG way though, I couldn’t always do this, but when I could, it really paid off. 

One client told me she and her daughter invented a “morning squeeze” that they only did before school — it became their special ritual and really helped her daughter feel secure. 

I know you’re going to tell me that mornings are simply chaos in your house, your kids don’t listen and shouting seems the only way to get them to finally do something, the tools I give you in my podcasts isn’t the whole toolkit - please get in touch if you’d like my personal help - mps.com/chat but in the meantime, I hope you could take even on tip from today and try it out.

4. Expect Big Feelings and Behaviour Changes

One of the biggest surprises for many parents is when the teacher says, “They’ve had a brilliant day, so well-behaved” … and the minute you get home, your child explodes over something tiny. You brought the wrong snack. You opened the front door instead of them.

This isn’t bad behaviour designed to wind you up. It’s the release of holding it together all day. School is busy, noisy, and full of new rules. Some kids soak that up and carry on, while others hold it in until the safety of home — and then the dam bursts.

You might see clinginess, meltdowns, rudeness, or back-chat. This doesn’t mean something’s gone wrong — it’s a normal adjustment. One client’s son suddenly started talking back in Year 1, and another’s daughter began having massive tantrums before even starting school. In both cases, understanding the feelings underneath changed how the parents responded.

When we see our child as having a problem rather than being a problem, it helps us to respond calmly. You can still hold boundaries while acknowledging feelings. That might mean gently holding the banana you can see they’re about to throw and saying, “I’m not going to let you throw this, it looks like you’re feeling really frustrated.” Or replying, “I’m not able to help when you shout at me like that, so when you’re a little calmer, you can ask me again.”

Practical tip: Keep after-school time low-key, have snacks ready immediately, and avoid cramming in extra activities for at least the first week or two. The calmer the home environment after school, the quicker kids can reset.

Reflection
The start of term is more than just a date in the diary — it’s a transition for the whole family. If it feels bumpy at first, that’s okay. You and your child are finding your rhythm again.

Closing Recap
✅ Prepare for emotions and the goodbyes, not just the checklist.
✅ Make the morning routine as easy as you can.
✅ Build in connection before school.
✅ Expect big feelings and behaviour changes.

If you’d like more strategies to help your child settle into the new school year, grab my free guide at myparentingsolutions.com/school.

Listener Question
I had a mum ask me recently, “My daughter is SO slow in the mornings, what can I do? I HAVE to get to work on time.  Each child is so different, this child might be slow to warm up in the mornings. We’ve also got to recognise that leaving the cosiness of home in the morning is really hard. Kids have a totally different agenda to us, we’re on a tight schedule, they’re trying to finish their game or are just daydreaming. The minute we rush, they tend to dig their heels in further and we become disconnected. So one tool I’d recommend allowing more time and having a visual timetable for kids to look at. 

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And if you’ve got a back-to-school story or a question you’d like me to answer here on the podcast, send me a DM on Instagram — I’d love to hear from you.

You might be breathing a huge sigh of relief at the thought of your kids going or starting back at school. Having a bit more routine and ending the endless school holiday struggles to keep them busy, and also heaving a sigh of relief as you wave them off.

But you might also be feeling that little knot in your stomach: Will my child be okay? Will they make friends? Will they cope with the long days again? Early mornings – oh goodness, how are we going to do that?

And if your child is sensitive with big feelings, you might notice that their emotions are just as mixed as yours – excitement one moment, and tears the next.

As a parent, you know it’s important to have clear boundaries, but you also want to be caring and compassionate. I’m Camilla McGill, a parenting coach and mum of four, and I’m here to give you the principles, tools, and inspiration you need to raise amazing kids. Welcome to Raising Kids with Love and Boundaries.

Today, I’m going to give you four practical tips to make the back-to-school transition as smooth as possible – whether you’re preparing for the first day or already a week or two into term.

I’ll also be answering a listener’s question at the end: “My daughter is so slow in the morning – what can I do? I have to get to work on time.”

Tip 1: Prepare Emotionally, Not Just Logistically – Especially for Drop-Off

I remember one September morning when one of my daughters was starting in reception (that’s kindergarten for my US listeners). She got her uniform on, shoes polished, little school bag ready, hair tied neatly… but within two minutes of arriving she was clinging on to me, shouting, “Don’t leave me Mummy!”

It’s really common – and usually they’re fine once they’re inside – but looking back, I realised I’d prepared everything except her feelings.

Kids need us to prepare them emotionally:

• “Going to school is fun and it also feels strange.”
  
  
• “You might worry about missing me, making new friends, or learning new rules.”
  
  
• “When I drop you off, I’ll give you a big hug and say, ‘I love you, goodbye, see you at the end of the day.’”
  
  

Having a goodbye mantra helps children manage expectations. Make sure they know who will collect them, especially if it’s someone different or if they’re going to after-school club.

And one very important thing – don’t linger at drop-off. A quick goodbye with your mantra is far easier for them. If you need to cry, do it round the corner – I’ve certainly done that.

Tip 2: Make the Morning Routine as Easy as You Can

That alarm after weeks of holiday lie-ins is brutal, and our kids feel it too.

If school hasn’t started yet, begin a few days before by waking everyone at school time, having breakfast, and getting dressed as if you’re heading out. Bring bedtime forward by 10–15 minutes each night. Kids need more sleep than we think, and school burns through their physical and emotional energy. Miss the sleep window and you’ll see frantic, overtired behaviour.

If school has already started, you can still gradually edge bedtime earlier.

Practical tips:

• Lay clothes out the night before.
  
  
• Pack bags, shoes by the door, breakfast table laid.
  
  
• Get kids involved – it gives them control and helps manage expectations.
  
  
• If you can, get yourself ready first – it makes a big difference.
  
  

One mum I worked with said this simple shift transformed their week. Her son arrived at school already “in the groove” instead of grumpy and groggy.

📘 For more strategies, grab my free guide at myparentingsolutions.com/school.

Tip 3: Focus on Connection in the Mornings

Parents often tell me mornings are full of guilt – nagging, shouting, barking at the kids. But a little emotional fuel can go a long way.

Just five minutes of calm, uninterrupted connection can make the whole morning smoother. Yes, it’s hard when you’re juggling work, a baby, or laundry, but think how long it takes to repair after a meltdown or a fight. Those five minutes can save you ten times that later.

Connection ideas:

• Sit with them while they eat breakfast.
  
  
• Read a quick story.
  
  
• Have a cuddle or “silly moment” on the sofa.
  
  

One client told me she and her daughter invented a “morning squeeze” – their special ritual before school. It gave her daughter security and cooperation shot up.

If mornings feel like chaos, you’re not alone. And if shouting feels like the only option, remember – these podcast tips are part of a bigger toolkit. If you’d like my personal support, book a free discovery call at myparentingsolutions.com/chat.

Tip 4: Expect Big Feelings and Behaviour Changes

This is one that catches parents off guard. The teacher says, “They’ve had a fantastic day – so well-behaved, star of the day!” Then at pick-up your child explodes because you opened the door instead of them or brought the wrong snack.

This isn’t bad behaviour to wind you up. It’s the release of holding it together all day. School is busy, noisy, full of rules – some children soak it up, others wait until the safety of home and then the dam bursts.

You might see:

• Clinginess
  
  
• Meltdowns
  
  
• Rudeness or back-chat
  
  
• Tiredness and digging their heels in
  
  

It doesn’t mean something’s gone wrong – it’s a normal adjustment.

The shift comes when we see our child as having a problem, not being a problem. That helps us respond calmly and hold boundaries.

For example:

• Gently hold the banana you can see they’re about to throw: “I’m not going to let you throw this, it looks like you’re really frustrated.”
  
  
• Or: “I’m not able to help when you shout at me like that. When you’re a little calmer, you can ask me again.”
  
  

Practical tip: Keep after-school time low-key. Snacks straight away, fewer activities, space to reset. The calmer home feels, the easier children can manage their big emotions.

Reflection

The start of term is a transition for the whole family. If it feels bumpy, that’s okay – you and your child are just finding your rhythm again.

Recap

✅ Prepare emotionally for goodbyes, not just the checklist.
✅ Make the morning routine as easy as possible.
✅ Build connection before school.
✅ Expect big feelings and behaviour changes.

📘 Download my free guide at myparentingsolutions.com/school for more strategies.

Listener Question: Slow Mornings

“My daughter is so slow in the mornings – what can I do? I have to get to work on time.”

Each child is different. Some are slow to warm up and leaving the cosiness of home is genuinely hard. Remember, kids have a different agenda – we’re on a tight schedule, they’re finishing a game or daydreaming. The more we rush, the more they resist.

Tools that help:

• Allow more time if you can.
  
  
• Use a visual timetable so your child can see the steps.
  
  
• Combine this with the morning routine and connection tips we’ve talked about.
  
  

Closing

I hope today’s episode was useful. Please rate the podcast, hit subscribe, and share it with friends so more parents can benefit.

Thank you so much for listening – from me, Camilla McGill.