Top Tips for Parents and Little Fashionistas...

The back-to-school season is quickly approaching. Here at Mimi & Lula, we know how exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) it can be for both parents and children to prepare for a new school year. Whether your little one is starting nursery, reception, or moving up a year, we've got some top tips to help make the transition smooth, stylish, and stress-free.

1. Create a Morning Routine

Establishing a morning routine can set the tone for the entire day. Here are a few tips to get started:

• Practice Early Wake-Ups: A week before school starts, gradually shift bedtime and wake-up time to help your child adjust to the school schedule.
• Plan the Night Before: Lay out outfits and pack bags the night before to avoid morning rushes. Involve your daughter in choosing her matching hair accessories from our Mimi & Lula collection, making her feel excited and confident about the day ahead.
• Breakfast Boost: Ensure your child has a healthy breakfast to fuel their day. Simple options like fruit, yogurt, and whole-grain toast can provide essential energy to keep them going through the day.

2. Organise School Supplies

A well-organised school bag can make a world of difference. Here's how to keep everything in check:

• Checklist Creation: Work with your child to create a checklist of essential items, like packed lunch, their water bottle, and raincoats. For little ones in nursery, focus on packing a change of clothes and a favourite comfort toy.
• Label Everything: Use name labels on all items, from water bottles to jumpers. This will help ensure nothing gets lost during the busy school day. Our favourites are the name stickers from My Name Tags where you can personalise the design to match your little one's personality. 
• Stylish Storage: Use fun and functional storage solutions for accessories like hair clips, headbands, and bow clips. Our Mimi & Lula hair clips hangers can keep everything in place and ready to go!

Dreamer Wall Hanger, £10

3. Prepare for New Experiences

Starting a new school year brings new experiences and opportunities for growth. Help your child embrace these changes:

• Talk About Feelings: Encourage your daughter to express her feelings about the new school year. Listen to her concerns and excitement, reassuring her that it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions.
• Practice The Walk To School: If possible, do a walk to school before the first day. Familiarity with the new routine can ease first-day jitters, especially for younger children starting nursery or reception.
• Story Time: Read books about starting school to spark conversations and help your child relate to characters who are experiencing similar adventures. Here are some of our favourites:

4. Encourage Independence

Helping your child develop independence is key to a successful school experience:

• Practice Self-Care: Teach your child basic self-care tasks, such as putting on their coat, fastening shoes, and opening lunch boxes. This is particularly important for younger children in nursery or reception.
• Routine Chart: Create a simple routine chart with tasks your child can handle, like brushing their teeth or getting dressed in the morning. This will instil a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
• Accessory Fun: Let your little one choose her own accessories, like a favourite headband or a big bow hair clip, to add a touch of personal style to her school uniform. Here are some of our must have essentials available in navy, red, and green...

5. Make It Special

Celebrate the start of a new school year with special traditions:

• Back-to-School Photos: Capture the first day with a fun photo session. Let your daughter showcase her favourite Mimi & Lula accessories for a picture-perfect moment.
• First-Day Surprise: Tuck a small note or a little treat into your child's lunchbox to remind her that you’re thinking of her.
• Create a Memory Box: Encourage your child to collect special mementos throughout the school year, like drawings, awards, or photos, in a designated memory box.

6. Simple School Hairstyles

Have some simple school hair styles in your mind along with the perfect accessories to make hair styling a breeze in the morning school rush.

Check out our blog post '6 SIMPLE SCHOOL HAIR STYLES' for some easy go to styles. Read the blog post here.

We hope these tips help you and your little ones feel excited and ready for the upcoming school year. At Mimi & Lula, we believe every day is an opportunity to express creativity and confidence through style. Here’s to a fantastic year of learning, laughter, and lovely accessories!

Feel free to share your back-to-school photos and stories with us on social media using #MimiAndLulaBackToSchool. We can’t wait to see how you and your little ones are rocking their Mimi & Lula looks!