Many feelings are normal and to be expected as your child starts to think about another year of school. Being nervous, anxious, and excited are typical feelings for every child in each age group, even for your savvy senior! We all need to get back into school-shape after the fun filled summer days when time may have stood slightly still.

 

Here are some concrete ideas from PBS Kids to ease the transition for your children:  

 

Reset your family schedule - Rushing into a new schedule is unrealistic. If you have not already been watching the clock and adjusting bed time and wake time, try to do so as soon as possible. Children will be tired for the first few weeks! Watch for overscheduling them during this time of adjustment period.

Discuss routines - Have your children contribute to the discussion and share their ideas about needed routines. Being a participant in the planning versus being told what and when they should do something allows them to own their schedule and adhere to it. Schedules can always be reviewed and adjusted as the school year unfolds. You are teaching them the importance of structure.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin

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Create a checklist - No one is too old for a checklist! I still start my day this way to keep me focused. When nerves and excitement are high, a checklist helps keep everyone on track and sets routines in place for each day.

 

Plan something to look forward to - This can be especially helpful for the child who really just struggles with school and dreads the return to these busy days. Remember that for introverts, this can be especially daunting. School is a very social place and children with this personality type may have to muster up extra effort to face the sensations buzzing around them.

 

Talk it out - Reflect back to your own experiences during the grade(s) that your children are entering. Children enjoy stories and really appreciate stories in which mom or dad make themselves vulnerable; my daughter still cracks up when I call myself “geeky mom”, expressing the awkwardness of something I did, said, or wore. And let’s face it, many of these years and our memories are just that awkward! So, why not fully embrace it with an attitude of humor and lightheartedness? Your child will find you much more relatable if you are open and honest, than the assurance that “everything will be great”. 

 

Try to remember that growth is uncomfortable. During these new experiences and adjustments your children are learning and maturing; although the temptation may be to fix something, just listen, allowing changes to settle.