FOR parents, the return to school brings a whirlwind of revived class WhatsApp groups, PTA meetings and forgotten swimming kits.
But luckily for busy mums, dads and teachers struggling with the endless demands of a new term, a new book full of essential advice is here to help.
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Brothers Lee and Adam Parkinson, the best-selling authors and hosts of the hilarious Two Mr Ps in a Pod(cast), have written a handy guide for stressed grown-ups called How To Survive The School Year.
In it, they share their tips on how to avoid getting overwhelmed when parent panic sets in.
Adam told us: “From the autumn harvest festival to summer sports day, the academic year is a non-stop frenzy of planning, preparation and potential chaos, whichever side of the school gates you find yourself.
“My advice would be to focus on the basics — uniform and lunches.
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“Remember, teachers and school staff are generally on your side and you are all working together to get positive outcomes for the kids.
“And give yourself a break, too. You can get caught up with a false picture on social media of these ‘perfect parents’, but I can guarantee you, no parent is perfect.
“Just be there for your child, full of praise and encouragement for any progress or success, no matter how big or small.”
Lee added: “Make no mistake, this is not a parenting guide. Neither Adam nor I would dream of telling others how to bring up their younglings. I’m far from a perfect parent — just ask my kids!
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“We want to give insights on how NOT to get overwhelmed by the demands of primary school life.”
The pair, who both work in primary education, launched their hugely successful podcast in 2018 and quickly built up a loyal following of more than six million listeners.
Their first two books, Put A Wet Paper Towel On It and This Is Your Own Time You’re Wasting, were instant bestsellers.
Here, dad Adam, who works as a higher level teaching assistant in Manchester, shares some of his top tips for surviving the big return to school.
UNIFORM
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ONE of the biggest tips I can give is to label everything your child owns in Sharpie pen.
You can spend a lot of time and money trying to find the right size and colour of jumper but it is amazing how fast your child will lose it.
It’ll be nice weather, they take theirs off to play and that’s it.
Check thoroughly when you think something is missing or lost, though.
We had one parent complain a top wasn’t theirs because it was labelled ‘George’ – but it was just from George at Asda.
Try not to get disheartened if your child’s uniform comes back filthy – it probably means they’ve had a lovely day.
Another tip is to use uniform organisers so you can sort the whole week’s clothing in one go.
PACKED LUNCHES
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PARENTS might not want to hear it, but preparation is key. I try to do as much as I can in advance.
What can also make life a bit easier is giving kids a bit more responsibility.
If your child is anything like my daughter, she comes home with a bag full of empty crisp packets and leftover lunch.
So I ask her to put her rubbish in the bin at the end of the day.
Then, the next day, she makes sure her lunchbox is in her bag and fills her water bottle.
As a reward, I give her a treat.
Reward systems are important, but there is no need to go crazy.
You could give £1 or just put a sticker on a chart, and if your child completes the week, you can go to the park for some fun on a Friday.
PARENTS’ EVENING
IT is really important to remember that your child’s teacher is on the same team as you. You want the best for your children, and so do they.
Parents’ evenings can be difficult for staff, especially with shortages in schools nowadays.
Teachers can have a horrendously stressful day then have to meet and greet all of these parents and tell them their little Johnny is “quite lively”.
Teachers will sugar-coat things at times, so listen to what they are really saying – that little Johnny is an absolute chatterbox – and use it as a chance to share and discuss potential progress for your child.
Also, do not discuss teachers in front of the kids. It will always get back to them.
NATIVITY
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THE school nativity is the child equivalent of a stag or a hen do.
You’ve got people trying to speak who can’t speak, the Three Wise Men being sick, and it’s chaos.
But it is also a traditional that children love – so embrace it and have fun with it.
In schools, you sometimes see teachers and teaching assistants having a tough time – and in my opinion they deserve to be paid far better than they are.
But none of them are in it for the money.
They just want to help your children and create magical memories for them.
The Nativity play is one of the times in the calendar where you really see that.
PTA
PTA helpers can be incredible, and I have seen them do amazing work.
The parents involved are often really helpful and can act as a positive influence within a school.
However, it is important to remember that being involved with the PTA is not the be-all and end-all.
Do not judge yourself too harshly if you can’t get involved as much as you wish, or at all.
You don’t know what freedoms others have in their lives or jobs, so don’t judge yourself by the same yardstick.
The most important thing is that you are there for your child.
When it comes to your contribution to the school as a whole, do what you can and try to bring a really good vibe.
SPECIAL EVENTS
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WHEN it comes to special occasions like Halloween and World Book Day, do what you can.
Don’t feel guilty if you can’t afford expensive outfits or spend hours making something – just try your best.
Avoid judging yourself by what you see on social media, too, because there are always people who have more money and time. I have seen costumes for World Book Day which were incredible, but really simple.
But the whole point of World Book Day is to get your child reading.
If I had a kid come in wearing their normal school uniform, but with a record showing the books they had read, that would mean more than a full body of make-up.
WHATSAPP GROUPS
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EVERY school WhatsApp group has “that” parent – the virtual busybody who should wind their neck in.
The perfect antidote to this is to have an equally pedantic person in the group with whom they will trade barbs.
Then you can just snooze the conversation and ask a mate who is also on the group to let you know if anything hilarious is said.
Some parents don’t want their number to be available to every parent in the year group just because they produced humans within the same 12-month period.
However, WhatsApp groups can be useful, especially if you’ve got some eagle-eyed superstars that spot if there’s a change in date for when the children are doing swimming or a class assembly.
HOMEWORK
WHEN you see your child’s homework, it’s easy to think: ‘What kind of monster sets this stuff?’
It usually reads something like: ‘We would like you to complete a diary/create a sculpture/collect seashells for a collage/paint a masterpiece.’
My advice is, don’t put it off because the longer you do, the more stressful it will be.
Try to make projects fun as they can be a lovely thing to do with your child.
They will enjoy spending the quality time with you, and the process will be less painful.
Also, the best way a child learns is by teaching someone else.
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So if your child has to learn their times tables, ask them to teach their other parent.
At the end of the day, homework is just extra learning, so try to make the best of it.