Help my son enjoy school again.

[Bluemoon88]

My DS has just started year 2. Last week was the 1st week back and he loved it. Loves his teacher, loved seeing his friends again and generally happy. This week I think they've started the normal routine of year 2 and cut playtime slightly with more learning. Now my son hates going in and keeps saying it's boring and they don't get much playtime anymore. This morning he had a right Paddy and started throwing his school shoes across the room and shouting at me. I took tablet time away from him today as a consequence. Once he finally got his shoes on I gave him a hug as I didn't want the anger to continue on our way to school. He started crying and saying he was sorry and ended up holding my hold on the school run. Was fine when I dropped him off and I told him we'd forget about this morning and I want him to have a good day (tablet time will still be taken away however). How can I help him be happy about going to school again? I kept reminding him it was roast chicken for school dinner today (his favourite) and that he would see all his friends. Don't know what else I can do really :-/

Establish a routine with a specific separation between school time and play times.
School is for learning, playdates/park for fun and play. Invite a friend at home on a specific day of the week.

There are fun-time at school, but they are not the main purpose of school. Become involved in what he does in the classroom, if you have time and the school is keen, become a parent helper.

Last, but quite fundamental: limit screens (iPad, tv, gaming) during the school days. Life on device is fast paced, full of colours , excitement , stimulus, instant rewards (stars, series, compliments), but real life is not. There are empty moments in real life, from waiting for your turn to show your work to the teacher to queuing for lunch or whatever. The brain gets used to a fast rhythm, never an empty second.
Have books instead of screens, read a story together, play a board game, ....