10 Tips to Get Your Kids Feeling Good About Going Back-to-School
Back to school means many things to families as they prepare their kids for the school year ahead.
Often, this sets the routine and expectations for the next ten months. There are some worries or fears that can come along. This list is designed to support you and your family to ensure everyone feels supported, prepared, and excited for September!
1.Create routines
One common theme throughout this list will be routines!
Our school routine takes up most of the year, but summer really can throw things off. From parents potentially being home more often to sleeping in during the week, things really can get turned upside down. Some things that may work to establish routines are finding a bedtime that works well, packing backpacks the night before, and picking out clothes. If something new is making its way into a morning routine (e.g., a new start time if transitioning to a new school or grade), practicing the routine before the first day of school is a good idea!
2. Focus on the positives
There is so much newness in a new school year; framing it as such can make it worthy of looking forward to.
Maybe you and your family will venture to the mall for a back-to-school outfit, or everyone will pick out their pencil case with their favourite character. Making a list of supplies needed and seeing what you already have is also a great way to generate excitement. If you went on an exciting trip or have a great story to tell, encouraging your kids to share that with their friends/teachers is also a great way to focus on the positives.
3. Manage anxieties / worries in advance
It is normal for first-day jitters to occur or to be nervous about being in a new class with new teachers.
Reassuring your child(ren) that nervousness is a natural part of trying something new is helpful and validating. Allowing your child(ren) to express emotions is also an excellent way for them to feel acknowledged. Perhaps sharing a story from when you were a child may make them feel a bit better. Sometimes it is also essential to have your child express the scenarios that make them feel this way. If they are worried that nobody will want to be their partner, help them plan ways to interact appropriately and strategies to consider in these situations.
4. Build good sleep habits
Getting into a school sleep schedule may take some time, but it is essential!
Some studies indicate that poor sleep correlates with poor academic performance. A great way to re-implement a sleep schedule is to practice a few weeks in advance. Ensuring they get enough sleep to feel refreshed and not groggy is also super important to their overall outlook on school! Encourage them to go to bed at their school sleep time and wake up/get ready as if they were going to school. Also encouraging sleep-friendly nighttime activities is also great. Ending the night with a bath or reading a book to wind down and relax is better than playing video or phone games.
5. Structure consistent homework / study time
Homework is nobody’s favourite, but it has to be done.
You can help your child get the most out of the assigned work by creating a homework-friendly environment. Maybe it is a desk in their bedroom or a communal space with appropriate furniture. By dedicating a space just for work, it allows them to separate fun activities from their school work. If your child gets distracted by electronics during homework time, maybe implementing boundaries that can encourage them not to use them during homework time. If they need to use a laptop, etc., encourage them not to get distracted by social media/other entertainment until their work is complete. If your child struggles with homework, speaking to their teacher for extra support/strategies to implement moving forward may be a good idea. In some cases, these difficulties can be prolonged. If this is the case, speaking to their doctor or a mental health professional may be conducive to their learning.
6. Talk about safety
Safety is essential and should not be neglected!
Whether that is safety with transportation to school (bus, car, bike or walking) or safety at school, it is crucial to go over what to do to be safe. If taking the bus, reminding your kids where to wait and that they should stay seated so they don't get hurt may be a good call—or reminding them to look both ways and cross the street at a stop sign when walking or biking. Safety also may look like preparing for fire drills or lockdowns. These experiences may worry some students. Remind them they are in place to keep safe should anything happen when at school.
7. Create a safe space to talk about challenges
Although we can equip our kids with the necessary skills, they may need help.
Perhaps they are struggling with math and are afraid to speak up. Or, maybe they are experiencing bullying at school and don’t know how to address it with their teacher. If your child brings up concerns or if you suspect anything may be going on, reassuring your child that you and their teacher will support them is critical. If there is anything that a teacher can support, reach out and speak with them. You can work with your child and teacher appropriately if anything requires follow-up. Acknowledging that your child may not want to speak up due to embarrassment or further bullying is essential. Keeping an eye on things and encouraging them to speak when they are ready will allow them to feel comfortable to come to you for help.
8. Encourage independence
Allowing kids to have some independence over their routine may ease any feelings of nervousness.
When kids actively prepare for school, they are more likely to want to go. If they get to choose their clothes for school or what they want to take for lunch, they have something to look forward to while feeling like they are making decisions for themselves.
9. Ask them what they need to feel better
Listening to our kids and what they need support with will allow them to have the best experience!
If they need some homework help, parents can offer that support. Their extracurriculars can be cancelled if they need a relaxing evening to work on school projects. If they want to chat with you - that’s fine too! Sometimes just listening and creating the space for them to acknowledge and ask for what they need is all that matters.
10. Celebrate back to school as a milestone
Who doesn’t love an excuse to celebrate?
We tend to celebrate fun events, like birthdays or holidays, so why not make back-to-school something to celebrate too? We are not encouraging you to go all out (but if you do, we totally support that!), but maybe having a BBQ and a special dessert to mark the beginning of school will excite your kids for what is to come.
This list could go on, but it acts as a good starting point to support your kids with the transition of back-to-school.
Ultimately, you as parents are there to support, encourage, and be there for your kids during the fun and not-so-fun times when it comes to school. Ensuring their mental and physical wellbeing is key, and these tips can help make sure they are.
Whatever it is, we’re here for you.
Life is uncertain. Jobs are stressful. Parenting is hard. Relationships take work. Families can be dysfunctional. And sometimes, love hurts. When you’re confronted by feelings, events, or issues that are making your life challenging, it’s okay to ask for some help.
