For some families, summer may have meant a time for travel and meeting relatives; for others, it was nice to simply stay cool indoors and relish Dubai without the traffic jams. But whichever way you chose to spend your holidays, the key ingredients probably included a relaxing routine and more family time together. If only we could take some of these magic ingredients and weave them into the regular school year, maybe we'd find ourselves less stressed out and our children more enthusiastic about learning.

Moira Patel writes to Friday: "Wouldn't it be nice if we could somehow make sure that we continue to spend more time with our children? It was so nice during the holidays to play and read with my sons, we hardly ever turned the TV or computer on. I am determined that when school starts I shall try to keep this up."

Families new to Dubai may find the transition back to school especially difficult. It is a stressful situation all around but more so for the ten-year-old, who has left his friends behind, is nervous about whether or not his new teachers will like him, and wonders how difficult the studies will be. Don't be surprised if there are bouts of depression, tears, or fits of anger. Make sure you have your priorities right: finding a new house may be less important than making sure your children have their school uniforms ready for their first day in school.

School anxiety is contagious. If you're nervous about the move, talk to a family friend or relative but don't be negative around your child. When she's nearby, act confident and say, "You'll do great!" It's important that you update your child's teachers about any ongoing concerns you may have. For example, you may want to point out that "Shelly took extra lessons in reading in her last school, and I was wondering if she could continue with this" rather than let your child struggle painfully through the first term. The really important thing is that your child should want to go to school and feel confident that she can learn almost anything.

For kindergartners, and younger children, going back to school raised new worries. "What if I get lost? How will I find the bathroom? Will you be late picking me up?" If you haven't done it as yet, be sure to explain to your child where she can expect to see you waiting. Be as specific as possible when you tell your child what she is expected to do in school. If you say, "you're going to read" she may think she's expected to read the first day. Instead explain, "You'll learn to read and write in small steps – a little at a time".

If your child has been asked to repeat a grade, it helps to prepare your child for any teasing that may occur. At the same time, you don't want to make him feel self-conscious by drawing too much attention to this. Equip him with appropriate words to say should any of his old buddies ask him, "How come you aren't in our class?" Or worse, "You can't play with us because you're too stupid to be in our class". Some good responses to teasing are, "My teacher selected me to stay back to help the other children"; "I'm not dumb, I just need more time to catch up".

Children in the middle and high school may have other concerns. Events that occurred over the holidays can leave deep impressions on older children, and it's important to be sensitive to their needs, too. Don't assume that a tenth grader will swing right back after the death of a grandparent, or the moving away of a best friend. Parents sometimes underestimate how 'small' incidents can mar their teenager's ability to cope with school.

"We met with a car accident when driving in New Zealand," says Mrs. Coelho "and I am surprised how my daughter, Vera, hasn't stopped telling her friends about it. She wants to go to school by bus; panics at the sound of a car horn, and is jumpy and irritable when her father is driving." Mrs. Coelho has sensibly planned on meeting Vera's teachers before school starts to discuss how they could ease her daughter's anxiety before it begins to effect her concentration in class, too.

Returning to school may not always be easy but remember it's still the place where your child feels safe, secure, and learns how to meet life's real lessons.

Next week: What to do when your child refuses to go to school.