School’s Back: Paediatrician’s Top Tips for a Smoother Start

As families get back into the school routine, it’s reassuring to know some experts truly understand the challenges children (and parents!) face during this transition. We spoke to Dr Aashish Gupta, Consultant Paediatrician, who has over 20 years’ experience caring for children from birth through to adolescence. Drawing on his expertise in general paediatrics, neonatal medicine, and child development, Dr Gupta shares his practical tips to help make the return to school a little smoother for the whole family.

September always seems to arrive faster than expected. One minute it’s ice creams and late nights, the next it’s name labels, packed lunches, and wondering how on earth your child has grown out of their shoes again. If back-to-school feels a bit overwhelming you’re not alone. Here are some practical tips to help your family ease back into term time.

Trust me, nobody’s mornings look like an advert, if yours are a bit chaotic, you’re in very good company.

1. Sleep (the hardest bit after summer!)

• Most children drift into late nights over the holidays. Don’t worry if yours has too — just move bedtime earlier by 15 minutes every few nights.
• A calm wind-down (bath, book, bed) works better than battles.
• Screens right before bed make sleep harder
• Books in bed = good. TikTok in bed = not so good.

2. Morning Madness

• Pack the bag and lay out clothes the night before. Hunting for missing shoes at 8:30am is a guaranteed way to raise blood pressure.
• Some breakfast is better than none. (It really helps concentration — even toast with butter and a banana is better than nothing)

3. The “Back-to-School Wobbles”

• It’s normal for children to feel nervous, even if they’re excited too. Acknowledge it: “It’s okay to feel a bit nervous on the first day.”
• Younger children often worry about who to play with. Reassure them that friendships take a few days to settle.
• Older children may show worries through tummy aches or irritability — gentle listening helps more than over-reassuring

4. Health Check

• Make sure school shoes actually fit (sore toes can make for grumpy kids!).
• Encourage good handwashing — coughs, colds and tummy bugs spread fast at the start of term.
• Keep up with vaccines — especially the flu vaccine in the autumn.

5. After-School Decompression

• Expect meltdowns. Children often “save” their tiredness for you (a strange sort of compliment).
• A snack, some quiet time, and then homework works better than jumping straight into “spellings NOW.”
• Daily exercise helps mood and sleep (scooter races count).

6. Parent Survival Tips

• Don’t compare — some kids bounce in, others need a slow warm-up. Both are normal.
• Prep what you can the night before = calmer mornings.
• And most importantly: be kind to yourself. You’re juggling a lot.

Routine + reassurance +kindness (to them and to yourself). = a smoother start to term.