Who’s Ready to Get the Kids Back to School?
It’s August, which means it is just about time for school to start. While the return to school can be a wonderful time for kids excited about school- and parents who have been juggling conflicting time commitments all summer, the transition back to school can also be difficult for kids and families. Change in routines can be hard-especially for kids who need more time to adjust to changes. Below are some tips for making this transition a positive experience for all.
Start early!
If you haven’t already, start talking about the start of school. You can look at a calendar together, discuss the remaining days left until school starts, and discuss any wants they have for the remainder of summer. Like any challenge, the return to school will be easiest if it is anticipated and planned for.
Talk to your kids about school, what they anticipate and what they expect.
This discussion is a great way to gauge how they are feeling about school. Allowing them to share whatever feelings they have-without debating them, minimizing them, or distracting the child from them, will show your child that you are able to hear their feelings- even if their feelings are different than what you’d expect or want. This knowledge will benefit everyone as your child grows older.
If it’s a new school, drive there, peek in the windows, try to guess (or know!) which classroom will be theirs. What will drop off be like? Where will they wait for the bus? What will pick-up be like? Problem solve any logistic issues now rather than reacting after school starts.
Return to increased structure and routine.
For many kids summer is all about late bedtimes, sleeping in flexible schedules. Now is the time to transition back to the structure of the school year. Adjust sleep schedules to reflect the start of school at least two weeks before school starts. Remember that time you traveled with your child and the jet lag led to unpleasantness? The same can happen to a kiddo that is accustomed to sleeping in and staying up late when they are jolted back to reality right before school. You want your child starting the year refreshed and ready to learn, not exhausted and feeling unprepared.
Identify goals.
Help your child identify some broad goals they have for the school year. Frame this as a positive way to make good things happen rather than avoiding bad things- we tend to head in the direction we are focused on. Examples might be: be a leader in the class, focus on my own work, try my best, forgive myself when I make a mistake. You know your child best, help them identify a couple goals and then help them reach them by providing the support they need.
As with any parenting behavior make sure you model what you you would like to see from your child. Adjust your sleep routines too, talk about your feelings, and model setting positive goals and sticking with helpful routines.
Hopefully these tips will help you prepare your child and family for the return to school.