Beyond the Backpack: 8 Small Habits for a Happier, Healthier School Year

A new school year often begins with excitement: fresh notebooks, colourful backpacks, new teachers and the promise of new friendships.

But behind that excitement, children may also feel uncertainty, tiredness and emotional ups and downs as they adjust to a different daily rhythm.

For parents, the challenge isn’t simply getting everyone out the door on time. It’s helping children feel safe, supported and confident as they navigate new experiences.

In a special episode of TadaTalk: Back to School, Beyond the Classroom, children’s authors Julie Brangers and Jessica McAnally joined us to explore how simple routines, curiosity, healthy choices and meaningful family connections can make a difference throughout the school year. Here are eight practical ideas inspired by that conversation.

1Build routines that feel safe, not stressful

Children meet a lot of change at the start of a school year: new classrooms, different schedules, unfamiliar expectations and sometimes new friendships. A predictable home routine gives them something steady to hold on to.

Jessica emphasises consistency, particularly around bedtime, family meals and after-school downtime.

Routines are meant to support your family, not become another source of pressure.

2Ask questions that spark real conversations

“How was school today?” — “Good.” Sound familiar?

Sometimes children need more specific questions to help them remember and share their experiences. Julie encourages parents to replace broad questions with gentle, curiosity-based conversation starters.

• “What made you laugh today?”
• “What was your favourite part of the day?”
• “Did you discover something interesting?”
• “Was there anything that surprised you?”

The goal isn’t to collect information. It’s to create an opening for connection. And timing matters — some children need a snack, quiet time or a little space before they’re ready to talk.

3Make school mornings a little easier

Busy mornings turn stressful fast when everyone has somewhere to be. Jessica recommends preparing as much as possible the night before, and involving children in age-appropriate tasks.

Let your child choose tomorrow’s outfit, help organise their backpack or take part in picking breakfast.

For breakfast, simple choices work well: eggs, yogurt, fruit, whole-grain toast or other familiar foods that give lasting energy. For children who struggle with a morning appetite, smaller portions or a nutritious smoothie may be easier. The goal is a realistic routine that works for your child and your family.

4Give children time to recharge after school

School is mentally, physically and emotionally demanding. After a full day of learning, social interaction and classroom expectations, children may come home tired, hungry, quiet or irritable.

Instead of asking about homework straight away, offer a moment to reset. Julie recommends time for relaxation, a snack and free play before evening responsibilities begin. Jessica reminds parents that home should feel like a safe place where children can decompress.

Often the most meaningful conversations happen on their own, while sharing a snack or just sitting together.

5Use stories to help children express their feelings

Children don’t always know how to explain their worries. A difficult moment with a friend, an embarrassing classroom experience or a mistake at school can feel overwhelming. Storytelling offers a gentler way in.

During TadaTalk, Julie highlighted how much it helps when parents share their own everyday feelings and challenges. When children hear that adults sometimes feel nervous, disappointed or uncertain too, those emotions become easier to discuss.

Stories also create a little distance between a child and a difficult feeling. Instead of asking “Are you worried about school?”, try exploring the experience through a character.

There are no right or wrong answers. The point is to encourage imagination, empathy and emotional expression.

From our shelf

Hey, Giraffe!

A curious giraffe, a new place, and all the questions that come with it — a good first story for this conversation.

At Tadatoon we believe stories can be more than entertainment. They can become starting points for learning, discovery and meaningful family conversations.

6Build healthy habits through choice and participation

Healthy eating isn’t only about what children eat. It’s also a chance to practise decision-making and independence. Jessica encourages parents to involve children in choosing and preparing their snacks.

Instead of packing what adults think children should eat, invite them to explore the options: fruit or yogurt, vegetables or hummus, or another balanced snack they enjoy.

You can also connect food with what your child already loves. If they play football, talk about how different foods fuel movement, growth and concentration. Avoid labelling food as a reward or a punishment — focus on variety, balance and helping children understand what their bodies need.

7Replace some screen time with curiosity time

What if one of the best learning activities needs no screen, no worksheet and no expensive toy? Just a walk outside.

Julie shared a simple idea from her work with Giraffe: the Curiosity Walk. Instead of going outside with no particular focus, turn the walk into a small discovery mission.

• “Can we find three different leaves?”
• “How many birds can we spot?”
• “What sounds can we hear?”
• “Can we find five tiny things we’ve never noticed before?”

A walk becomes a chance to practise observation, storytelling, vocabulary and creative thinking — and children can tie what they find to what they’re learning at school.

8Protect small moments of family connection

One of the most meaningful messages from the conversation was surprisingly simple: connection doesn’t always need more time. Sometimes it just needs intention.

Jessica encourages families to protect at least one shared meal a week when busy schedules make daily meals impossible. She also shared a family conversation activity called Rose and Thorn.

It makes room for both the hard and the happy parts of a day. Julie shared another tradition she holds on to: bedtime reading and one-to-one conversation with her children. A few minutes spent reading, talking or simply listening can become the part of the day a child remembers.

A little reminder for parents

You don’t have to build the perfect school routine. You don’t have to prepare elaborate breakfasts every morning, plan exciting activities every weekend, or have all the right answers when your child feels overwhelmed.

Start small. One calmer morning. One thoughtful question. One curiosity walk. One bedtime story. One moment when your child feels truly heard.

Because the goal isn’t simply to help children succeed at school. It’s to help them feel supported, connected and confident as they grow.

More than back to school. It’s about staying connected.