Are you ready for the school season?

Here are five tips to help your kids get back in the groove for a successful academic year

School season is back, except this time, children are subject to a blend of virtual and physical classes due to the current situation where health is of utmost importance. The new norm may seem a bit stressful, but don't fret.

Create a master schedule
Invest in a wall-sized calendar or a hang up a whiteboard and list out the family's schedules, keeping your child's timings on the priority list. Mark their timings and activities - be it for online lectures in the morning, as well as assignments in the evening, or extracurricular commitments and other outings. Put this up in a common room for all to see, so everyone is aware of each other's whereabouts and avoid scheduling conflicts. You can also download group scheduling apps to keep the family connected.

Set up a study station
Even if you live in a small apartment, it is possible to convert a section of the room into a study zone, but the important point here is to have family members cooperate. During those times, ensure your child is given peace and solitude. Keep distractions away and let the rest engage in quiet activities, such as reading or watch a show on low volume in another room. Remind your studious child to take breaks for at least 10 minutes every hour.

Label and file everything
Setting a designated place for things helps get things sorted faster - be it on the laptop or paper-based homework. For the manual side of things, prepare a cabinet drawer. Label and use colour codes to organise past assignments, reference materials, timetables, official school notices, etc. From a digital perspective, teach your children to name their folders in a way that helps them find their assignments and lectures easily. Introduce checklists too!

Pack a day in advance
Why rush the next day when you can prep everything the night before? Before your child goes to bed, encourage them to sort out their books for their next set of lessons and place them in order on their study desk, so they don't need to panic if they wake up late. If they have to attend physical classes, ensure they pack their bags, notebooks and stationery. Uniforms, shoes and accessories should be pressed and laid out.

Prep meals and snacks
Mealtimes are essential to fuel your young ones with energy and brain power. You can organise your fridge to make it easy for them to grab a snack on the go - whether it's breakfast on the way to school, or a quick fix before the next virtual session. Some ideas are overnight oats packed with bananas or berries, fresh cut fruits and veggie sticks with hummus dip, a selection of nuts and raisins, and cold tuna sandwiches.

Tip: The plus side of this is that your children will develop a habit that would ultimately help them get organised in adulthood.