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.

Grab your FREE guide - ‘The 10 best ways to help your child settle into school’

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.

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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

When you're ready here are 3 ways that Camilla could help you further:
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Transcript

Back to school made easy - 4  tips every parent needs

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.