3 Things Every Year 7 Needs

Starting secondary school can be a very daunting time. Even the most confident kids worry: will I make friends? Will I like the teachers? How will I get to school on my own?

There’s so much conflicting advice out there that it can be hard to know exactly what your child will need. So here are my 3 top things that every new Year 7 needs.

1. A smartphone

I know this one is controversial! Most parents worry about giving their child a smartphone and it can be very tempting to just buy a ‘brick’ phone for calls and texts only. But a smartphone has many advantages.

Many secondary schools use an app to set and track homework and in my daughters’ school, devices are sometimes used in lessons for quizzes, accessing online textbooks or individual research. WhatsApp class groups can be very useful for your child to check with other children what’s needed and for arranging social activities outside school. Plus, with many smartphones, you can track where your child is and what they are doing.

Of course, it’s vital to discuss your rules (and the school’s) for using a smartphone and I certainly wouldn’t suggest buying them a fancy model until they’ve proven they can take care of it!

2. A decent backpack

Year 7's often end up carrying all their books for the day so a backpack is the best option for protecting your child’s back long term. Don’t forget that the nights draw in pretty quickly in Autumn and your child will soon be travelling to and from school in the dark. Look for reflective panels as an absolute minimum and ideally, integral LED lights to allow them to be seen and stay safe (look at the Futliit backpack for example).

Choose a backpack that has room for books and PE kits but not so big it won’t fit under a desk. A padded back and straps will make it comfortable to use. Extra features that you might want to consider are water bottle pockets, a padded device sleeve and zipped pockets for bus passes, library cards and house keys.

3. An organisation station

Year 7 is really the first time that children have had to organise themselves and teachers tend to crack down on this from Day One. So an organisation station at home is a must. And by organisation station, I don’t mean an Instagram-worthy super fancy space (unless that’s your thing!), just a small shelf where your child can store all their books and equipment like PE kit and art folders.

Pick up a couple of magazine files and plastic wallets (the major supermarkets have a great inexpensive selection) to organise books and worksheets. Put pens, pencils, highlighters etc in a pot or box so they are easy to grab. Stick up their timetable nearby and help your child get into the habit of packing their books and kit the night before.