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Getting back to school ready!
Tips to use as you help your child adjust to upcoming school year

Naomi Domitrovich, CT
Clinician

As the end of summertime fun quickly approaches, the nerves of starting a new school year start to arise. Getting back into school routines can feel like an impossible task for both parents and kids, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some ways to help make going back to school a smooth transition!

Get back to a more structured sleep routine
Summer is often filled with sleeping in during the morning time and staying awake during late hours of the night, which can make waking up for school in the morning tough. Help your kiddo get back into a routine of waking up at the time they would need to wake up for school and making their bedtime earlier as well so they can get their much needed rest to carry them throughout the day!

Replace screen time with different hands-on fun
As kids go back to school, they won’t have access to their devices like they do at home. To help them adjust to this change, incorporate fun activities that don’t involve a device! Try coloring in coloring workbooks, do some school related worksheets, draw with sidewalk chalk, or read a book! This will help prepare them for activities they will do within their classroom.

Practice what their new morning routine will look like
Rather than giving them a morning filled with uncertainty on their first day of school, help them know what they are getting into! While you practice waking up early for school, you should also practice what the morning will look like. Eat breakfast, brush teeth, pick out and put on an outfit for the day, etc. Showing them what their morning routine will look like will help them adjust and feel more comfortable to this new schedule!

Include them when buying and organizing their school supplies
Getting new folders, markers, and pencil pouches is a fun part of going back to school, so let them help! Let them pick out the designs they like to express themselves! Also include them in learning what the supplies will be used for, this can help them develop a better understanding of what they will be doing in the classroom. This can get them excited to learn and excited to use their new supplies!

Create a space to talk about the many feelings that come with school starting up
Be welcoming to all the feelings your kiddo is experiencing! Adapting to changes in routines can be a lot to process, so it’s best to help them express whatever is on their mind. Feelings such as excitement, nervousness, anger, fear, and happiness are all normal when going back to school, so make sure they know you’re there to talk about each one with them.

If you’re unsure on how help them express these thoughts and feelings, start by asking a few open ended question. A few examples of these questions are…
“How are you feeling about going back to school?”

“Is there anything about going back to school that makes you have happy or unhappy feelings?”

“What are you look forward to learning this year?”

“If you could change one thing about going back to school, what would it be?”

“Are there any feelings you have about going to school that you wish I knew about?”

“What do you think will be the easiest part of going back to school? What might be the hardest?”

Create a network with other parents
Adjusting to going back to school isn’t just tough on the kids, it can also be stressful for the parents as well. Communicating with other parents can help remind you that you aren’t alone in your worries! Having a network of other parents to discuss how you’re handling the back-to-school process can put your own mind at ease, while also being more effective in calming your child’s concerns.

There is no one perfect way to prepare yourself and your child for the process of going back to school, you just need to find what works best for you.

Communicating expectations, changes, and the feelings that come with it all can help you get back into the swing of a new school year! Focusing on the excitement of embracing a new chapter can help combat those feelings of uncertainty that come with new adjustments, and reminding yourself that in a short time, this new adjustment will quickly become your new normal routine.

You got this! Have a great school year!