Preparing for the return to school – Everything you need to know!

The summer holidays are over and it's time to prepare for the return to school. For you, until...
You can breathe a little longer and make better use of your time. After weeks of managing entire family affairs, you're finally back to your routine!

For children, the end of summer can bring mixed feelings. Remind them that there's no reason to worry. The responsibilities, autonomy, and knowledge that school provides are fundamental and open doors to experiences as good as those of the holidays – or even better. Everything goes better if your child sees the return to school in the new academic year as an opportunity to grow, learn, and create memories.

It's time to trade swimming, games with new friends, and outings for a new routine and old friends! If you see the start of the school year as a headache for the family, transform your perspective with some simple strategies we've created for you.

Learn how to prepare for the return to school focusing on all these points:

Emotional preparation
Shopping and school supplies
Practical organization
Adapting to the new school routine
Healthy and planned eating

Emotional preparation for returning to school.

celebrate the start of the school year with a special breakfast, a walk, or a moment of conversation to ritualize this new beginning and approach it positively.
Talk about what's going to happen. About the class, different teachers, or reuniting with friends. Anticipating helps reduce anxiety.
Reinforce your child's skills, such as punctuality, commitment, and teamwork. Your words have a strong impact on how your child "talks to themselves."
Explain that nervousness is normal. Share simple strategies such as taking deep breaths or organizing tasks into steps.
Encourage extracurricular activities. They are a way to balance study and fun, as well as promoting new skills.

Buying school supplies for the return to classes.

Choose a backpack that is the right size for the child, with straps that go above the hips. If the bag weighs more than 10% of the child's weight, opt for a backpack with wheels and an adjustable handle.
Organize your backpack to balance the weight. Heavier books should be placed closest to your back, and lighter items distributed throughout the space.
Take a look in your wardrobe. Separate what you no longer need, donate or sell what is in good condition, and prepare your autumn/winter clothes.
Reuse materials from the previous year. Only buy what you need.
Personalize o School SuppliesLet the kids decorate notebooks or create their own pencil case. They'll love it!

Practical organization for returning to school.

Take care of the paperwork in the first few days. Authorizations, medical records, vaccination records. Always keep digital copies for any eventuality.
Mark vacations, holidays, and important test dates on the school calendar.
Teach them how to create a to-do list. These help with organizing homework and preparing for tests.
Control your budget. Set priorities, reuse materials from the previous year, buy only what you need, and take advantage of promotions.
Ensure good conditions at home. A well-lit, calm, and distraction-free space is essential for studying.

Adapting to the new routine of returning to school.

Adjust sleep schedules a week in advance. Going to bed earlier is half the battle in avoiding morning tantrums (yours and theirs).
Establish clear schedules: study, playtime, screen time, bath time, and bedtime. When the rules are well-defined, everyone benefits.
Pack your backpack, lunchbox, and clothes the night before. That way, you can leave home with peace of mind instead of sky-high stress levels right at the start of the week!
Get your clothes ready the night before. This way, you avoid drama at 7 am and existential crises like "I can't find my favorite sneakers!".
Set your alarm 10 minutes before you need to stretch. We all know that stretching time is never "just a minute".
Place a family calendar in a strategic location. In the kitchen, in the entryway… the important thing is that it's impossible to ignore.
Create a functional study space: an organized desk, good lighting, and a comfortable chair to create a light and focused environment.

Healthy and planned eating

Involve the children in the preparation. Besides participating, they learn healthy habits.
Create a weekly plan of healthy snacks for schoolPreparing on the weekend makes the routine easier.
Opt for simple and balanced snacks: sandwiches in fun shapes, fruit skewers, carrot or cucumber sticks, dried fruit or wholemeal crackers (depending on age).

A new beginning

The end of the holidays marks the start of a new phase full of opportunities. There's nothing better than starting to plan fun days according to the school holiday calendar.

Classes begin sometime between September 11th and 15th, depending on the institution. Time to reconnect with old friends and meet new people, explore new books, and try to start off on the right foot!

Main school holidays

The main holidays in the school calendar are as follows:

Christmas / New Year → from December 16, 2025 to January 5, 2026

Carnival → February 16-18, 2026

Easter → from March 30th to April 10th, 2026

We want you to make the most of these school breaks! On our website, you'll find everything from Christmas Holiday Camps and Christmas Holiday Activities, to Easter 2026 Holiday Camps and Easter Holiday Activities, and even more options for... Summer Holiday Camps
If you are looking for options in specific locations, there are numerous choices available. Holiday Camps in Lisbon and the Holiday Camps in Porto.

Prepare properly for the return to school so that this school year is full of learning, friendships, and achievements!