It feels like we blinked and we are already in the middle of July! Whether you and your kiddos are looking forward to going back to school or dreading it, a smooth transition into a new routine is key to your family’s success over the next few months.
Remember how hard it is for YOU when you start a new job. Everything feels new, you’re not quite sure what you’re doing yet, and it can feel overwhelming. That anxious feeling is how our kids often feel on the first day of school.
Here are 4 quick tips to ease the sometimes difficult transition:
1. Get back into a routine.
It is critical to your child’s success to begin getting back into their school year routine a few weeks before school starts. If your child has been staying up until 2 a.m. watching Youtube or playing video games this summer, they likely will not respond well if you just make them go to bed at 9 p.m. the day before school starts.
Their bodies have been on different schedules and it takes time to get adjusted back to a routine. Starting August 1st, move bedtime earlier every night in order to make this transition less painful.
It may even be helpful to have a “trial” day a few days before school where as a family you practice getting up on time, getting dressed, and out the door on time. This will help alleviate everyone’s inevitable stress on the first day of school because the expectations are clear and have already been practiced.
2. Talk about goals for the year.
Have a conversation with your kiddos about what their goals are this year. Not just academic goals, but also social/emotional goals. Do they want to make new friends, try a new sport, or become more confident speaking up in front of the class?
Be okay if their goals differ from YOUR goals for them. They might not have a goal to be a straight A student this year and that’s okay. Getting them involved in setting goals that are important to them will make them more likely to achieve those goals.
3. Implement play.
Do you have a little one who struggles with separation anxiety? Role play the first day of school using your child’s dolls or stuffed animals. It might be challenging for a young child to talk about how nervous they are feeling about being away from you and at school during the day.
Using play allows a degree of separation that makes it easier for children to tolerate these difficult emotions.
Maybe it’s Mr. Bunny’s first day of school and HE’s really nervous. You can ask your child “What do you think would help Mr. Bunny feel better?” If it’s separation your child struggles with, role play Mr. Bunny being dropped off at school by his mom and then his mom later returning and picking him up.
Emphasize that mom (or dad/grandma/caretaker) ALWAYS return to pick him up (Think: Daniel Tiger’s “Grown-ups Come Back” song).
4. Lower your expectations.
The back to school transition is exhausting for everyone, including our kids. Your child will likely come home from school tired, hungry, and cranky.
Resist the urge to ask about all their day and expect them to tell you every little detail. Have snacks ready to go, a calming activity planned (play with fidgets/kinetic sand, watch a movie, play toys quietly in their room), and allow them time to decompress from what is an exciting, but also stressful time for them.
This is not the time to plan a pool party or go out to a fancy restaurant. Set your child (and the whole family) up for success by allowing them time to regulate their emotions.
With these tips and some planning, you and your family can start off back to school feeling peaceful and ready to start the school year. Parenting is one of the most rewarding yet challenging roles we undertake! It's hard and wonderful all at the same time.
Even with our best efforts, sometimes our child needs additional support! If you are concerned about the upcoming school year for your child and need some help, please contact us or schedule a session below.
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