Back to School 2023
So many things this year seem to have gone up in price – and as always prices seem to rise for all things we need to buy as parents just as we need to buy them. The shops have a captive market – and online retailers are no better. Expect big falls in prices just as our children go back to school. Backpacks are a good example of a product we have found retailing at around 25% more this year – but everything this year seems to be more expensive.
The best options we can find for most things is Carrefour online (there is a “”””sale””””” on at the moment – find it here), and, inevitably, Magrudy’s. Expect busy chaos at Magrudy’s and the prices are higher. In return, however, you get good service and, on balance, better quality. Again, there is a small sale on now.
Putting prices aside, the other issue is just actually remembering everything (or, in fact, anything at all) – and planning for how to make going back to school less traumatic for children – and us as parents.
Below we have included our own check list – but also a collection of some of the tips we have received over the last five years that we think are really helpful.
We have only shared some ideas here – you could write a book on back-to-school. But then. where would be the fun in discovering everything and having just a little, manageable, drama?!
Clothing
Most schools have uniform – and there are few hacks to cut down the cost. Obviously if you can buy bigger, it allows room to grow. This is true of blazers, but do not compromise on shoes. Just expect to be replacing shoes every few months because they wear out and children grow. Somewhere there is giant heaven for kids shoes that must be the size of Antarctica. Ideally buy at least six shirts – you do not want to be washing every day. Six is better because you can expect at least one to be destroyed by ink, paint or tears. Yes, another joy of being a parent is the inevitable discussion about “how did you ruin your uniform?” knowing that answer will be “it was someone else’s fault.”
There is a big move today for velcro shoes. They make it so much quicker to get out of the door in the morning and the children love them. However, if you do not want children to be wearing velcro shoes into adulthood, it is probably better to get them into laces as soon as possible. Expect a lot of frustration – but it gets harder to teach children the longer you leave it. As they get holder, velcro shoes are really difficult to find in larger sizes. It’s the same sort of issue as weaning little ones (or some adults) off dummies.
Pens and Stationary
It’s likely that within the next ten years no one will know what a pen even is, but in the meantime it’s worth stocking up on black and blue pens. Biros are a nightmare and leak everywhere; the rollerballs are better, but more expensive. If you do need to buy biros, it is better to buy BIC; they leak less often. Create a store of stationary at home – do not be tempted to overstock pencil cases; they will be lost at least five times a year (if you are lucky). We know lots of children that struggle with dyspraxia – and many more that are doctors in the making with handwriting hieroglyphics that even they cannot read. The Stabilo EASY Start is a life-changer – but expensive. It can be purchased from Amazon here. It is available in both left handed and right handed versions.
Uniform
Children rebel. But the truth is schools are strict on uniform. It is not worth the aggravation of not following the rules. It is also probably not worth a discussion with children on the rights and wrongs of uniform or sharing your views if they are at odds with the school. Expect issues from boys and girls as they get older. Just print out the instructions from schools and follow to the letter. This avoids any embarrassment for children – and stops you getting the inevitable letters (or children being sent home).
Computers
The world remains divided between Apple and Windows. Find out which your school favours and start the process on whichever one it is as early as possible. Anything Apple is ridiculously expensive – but the machines are pretty much indestructible and tamper proof. If you are looking at Windows machines we personally like Asus technology, and the Vivobook ranges are designed to deliver power on a budget. You can find lots of Vivobooks here. Having said that, the price scalping that started in the Covid years is continuing – laptops and tablets are now ridiculously over-priced. If you can afford it, for a Windows laptop, we would choose this model.
Older children will push for integrated graphics cards on laptops. They want them to play games. They offer little to no value for school work. On Windows machines integrated graphics come with a (very) high price tag and are usually labelled NVidea RTX. Avoid them if possible, unless it’s an excuse for buying yourself a new laptop. If you have to, buy an XBox – it works out cheaper and avoids a situation when you do not know whether a child is doing homework or playing Fortnite. If you do have to buy integrated graphics, buy an RTX 480 (the most expensive option), or last year’s RTX 3070 or 3080 (with or without Ti). The 3070 offers the best value. Do not buy any laptop without 16GB of RAM.
Remember you are going to have to add in a subscription to Microsoft Office. It is worth buying the family edition so everyone (6 users) can use it. Buy it here.
If you are going Apple, there is a back-to-school sale of sorts and Education Discounts. Find out more here.
Managing Emotion
Back-to-school is for many an absolute trauma. There are two hacks that help parents and students.
Map out the journey. It may seem completely mad, but driving every day to and from school in the holidays, ensures that you know where you are going – and your children get use to the thought of going to school. However you feel inside, you just need to pretend it is the most exciting thing in the universe. At least, this is the advice. Most of us are filled with dread – and often, even as children grow older, those same back-to-school blues continue in some form or other. Just hold in your head the following thoughts. If children hate school, then you can change schools quite easily. There is so much competition. But…. do not do it on the first day. Children need at least one term – and some people would say a year. This is a judgement call with no right answers.
Routine. For those of us that struggle with routine, this is difficult. But, mastering routine, and sticking with it, can be the difference between survival and ending up in a giant hole with no ladder. Lists and timings are your friend.
Share the pain. It’s almost always the case, if you are lucky enough to have a partner, that one person, Mum or Dad, is more maternal. More maternal means doing most of the jobs. This is not clever. Responsibilities must be shared. You may not trust your partner’s ability to cook a boiled egg, but you must try. Taking on too much alone never leads to a good place. Just remember, the pain of teaching your other half how to make a lunch box, will eventually pay dividends (even if it does take two weeks).
Bed Times
However difficult, start getting children adjusted as soon as possible – and at least one week before school. It will be hard enough for them, without them arriving at school exhausted. Our favourite sleep time guide is below.
Xboxes and Gizmos
In an ideal world you would keep these outside your home. Yes, putting children in front of them gives you space to think, particularly when children are younger. However, the problem is that you will wake up one day and find that your child is literally glued to the thing. They are brilliant for helping children build relationships with other children – they talk on headsets and they gain a common universe to share. However, you really should set a routine in which the use of these things is timed. If you do not set a routine from Day One, it is invariably too late later. the other problem with Xboxes is that they can pretty quickly damage a child’s love of reading.
Phones are another headache. Most of us are also addicted to the things. Most schools have policies on these which makes it easier. When children do have phones, it does take some worry away that when they are away from you they can keep in contact and you know where they are. However, bullying is a real issue – and they are very unsociable as we all know from our own guilt trips at the Dinner table.. One way around this is to buy a Nokia with no social media. An example can be found here. There is a view, however, that it is better to give children fully featured phones and then teach them when the appropriate time is to use them, and how. The issue with this is is that it takes a lot of time and depends on self discipline from parents and teachers that in a busy world is all too easy to sacrifice as the next drama comes around the corner. The new world is here though, so maybe we just have to get use to it….
Resilience
There is a lot of talk about resilience. We are supposed to teach it. The idea is that children become tough and things roll off their backs and do not upset them. The problem is that not all children are the same. Many of us as adults are sensitive and would not want to lose this. It makes us who we are. It also sounds far too much like the “toughen them up” “make them real men” approach that died, or should have died, a death a generation ago. Again, there are no easy answers here. However, good schools will have policies – and will be organised enough, to minimise issues that arise. Bullying is a blight on all of us – and all schools will have policies to deal with this. No child should ever suffer, let alone suffer in silence. But the day-to-day fallings out with friends is part of growing up, as is being in trouble with the teacher for making some mistake or other. Some children will get really upset, some will not. When children are younger, the best schools have teachers that understand all of this and ensure that all of these learning moments are managed. It is part of teaching. As children get older, they will inevitably become more resilient and better able to manage, although some more than others. The general rule is to start from the position of supporting your child. However, sometimes your child will have done something wrong. If you receive a letter from a school, do not always assume your child is an angel. If schools do alert you to an issue, always start with the assumption that they are doing this to be helpful… At the same time, children cannot ever have too many hugs.
Finding lessons and Losing Timetables
When children go to a school for the first time, it is inevitable they will get lost. Any of us that start a new job in a new building gets lost, so why should it be different for children? Expect schools to provide maps and timetables. Also expect to be printing these out every day as children will lose them. You can laminate them, or if you do not have a laminator you can use selotape to try and make them last more than a day. On that note, you will need a printer. Try and avoid buying an inkjet printer. Yes, they are cheaper. But… you will always be changing the cartridges and they are expensive. Instead, buy a black and white or, preferably, colour laser printer. We recommend this one.
Friends
If you are very lucky, your child will be going to the same school as his or her friends. This will really help. If you can, try and engineer a get together before going back to school so that, at school, your child has some kind known soul to find during break to provide support and friendly face.
The Joneses
Forget the Ferraris and Veyrons. It is all trivial. Most people only have enough time to worry about themselves and are not thinking about anyone else. Most people, however showy, wealthy or otherwise, struggle behind closed doors. If your car is falling to pieces (as long as it is safe), revel in it. If your children come home wanting Nike shoes that cost a million dirhams because only ten pairs are made and their friends have them, just avoid getting into the loop. You will never keep up. This is one of the reasons schools have uniforms…. to remove all this nonsense. You and your children are not the car you drive. You are special and you, as they are who they are – and are both absolutely brilliant.
Last thoughts
Children grow up so quickly. It’s a blink of an eye. It may seem like you have all the time in the world – but you really don’t. However difficult, try and enjoy it, and them. When you want to scream because they have gone to school in odds socks, try and smile. It will be a new day tomorrow, it is not the end of the world – and you will never get this time of magical missteps and muddles back. One day you will open your eyes and they will be walking out the door. Don’t have regrets. Take one day at a time. Be proud of them. Be proud of you.
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