That time of the year is here when summer is almost over and the kids have gone back to school. The transition from vacation mode to a new school year can be stressful for the child and the parents, so here are some pointers for easing your child into the school routine.
Easing Into the School Routine
Kids tend to forget all their worries and stress about school during the summer break, but then they may find the end of summer extremely stressful because it means returning to school and facing the same issues they had last year.
A fresh school year can be exciting and stressful at the same time and kids of different ages have different things to worry about. It might help to use that as your starting point when trying to ease your child into a new academic year.
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Have a one-on-one session:
Sit your child down and give him or her an opportunity to talk about specific stressors and issues they faced at school during the previous year. Hear the child out completely and provide solutions on how to tackle their issues. While younger kids might have simpler problems like not getting to sit next to their best friend during class, older children might have more serious troubles like episodes of bullying, a tough subject or a difficult teacher. Teaching the children how to face and handle their specific stressors efficiently can help them face school more confidently.
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Understand their vision for the new year:
Older kids might have a game plan for the year, the subject they want to focus on more (with college in mind), the sports that interest them and the other activities they want to focus on. Once you know their plans, provide pointers to plan their schedules and assure them that you’ll be available for any support they need.
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Teach them the importance of new beginnings:
A new school year, especially for children transitioning between schools, can be stressful because it may mean new friends, new teachers and a whole new environment. A little pep talk can go a long way, so boost your child’s confidence by teaching him or her the importance of new beginnings. Emphasize on how it is an opportunity to showcase their academic and creative talents before a new audience and get them excited about the new school year.
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Help them organize their schedules:
Transitioning from a sleep, play, repeat mode to a more serious schedule can often be difficult for kids of all ages. You can step in and help them organize their new schedules efficiently so that all their activities get assigned specific slots on the calendar, making it easy for them and you to stay on track.
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Look back on the previous year:
A review of the year that went by might help your child and you understand what went right and what went way wrong. You’ll both be able to analyze the experiences and figure out how to avoid unpleasant situations in the new year. It might also help children understand their own emotions and reactions to situations and deal with them better.
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Relive your summer memories:
Summer breaks are always fun, so after you’re done with the more serious discussions, take a few moments to discuss your summer break and maybe even help your child create a scrapbook of memories to cherish.
References
Richardson, T. C. (2018, August 23). 8 Quick Mindfulness Exercises To Help Kids Ease Back Into The School Year. Retrieved from https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/prepare-kids-for-a-new-school-year-using-mindfulness
Jacobson, R. (2017, August 30). Helping Kids Back Into the School Routine. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/helping-kids-back-school-routine/
