10 Tips to Prepare Your Child for the New School Year
The Summer is starting to wind down, and most parents are starting to transition from Summer fun to back-to-school preparations. If you’re wondering what you can do to help your child prepare for the new school year, then you’re in the right place! We’ve compiled ten easy-to-follow tips and additional resources to make this transition as seamless as possible.
Be open and communicate
While it might be tempting to avoid talking about the big elephant in the room, it is much better to be open with your children and talk about what they can expect in this new school year. Ask simple questions and listen to their concerns.
Practice the transition and start building routines
They do say practice makes perfect, right? Practicing is one of the best things you can do to help your children adjust to this transition. Talk about what they can expect over the next few weeks, how your family will prepare for the first day of school, and what needs to be done. It is also important to practice your morning and nightly routines to adjust to the new schedules.
Visit the school
This is a crucial one, especially for younger children. Make time to do a few practice runs, visit the school, and walk around the grounds to familiarize them with the building and its surroundings. If you have children in the K-5 range, don’t forget to show them the playground and let them play and explore for a little while.
Include them in back-to-school activities
This one is one of my favorite ones because it gives children the opportunity to join in on the fun. Make time on your day off or the weekends to go back to school shopping, pick a backpack together, and find ways to equip your child with supplies or clothing that will make them feel confident. For example, when I asked my son what he wanted to wear on the first week of school, he said he wanted t-shirts with Spiderman on them.
Also, if you have older children, this is a great way to delegate some items on your to-do list.
Connect with fellow parents and your child’s classmates
A great place to start is your child’s school's website. You’ll be able to connect with the PTA directly and learn about any official parent groups they might have. I was able to join the official Facebook group for my son’s school after connecting with the PTA. So far, this has allowed me to schedule playdates with fellow Kinder classmates and stay up to date on any upcoming events and opportunities for my son to make friends before the first day of class.
Talk through what a day in school will consist of
Walking through what a day in school will consist of can help your child feel less anxious. Anticipating the unknown can be challenging for humans of any age, but getting a sneak peek and reassurance from someone you love makes all the difference. Do this during a time when your child is the calmest and avoid bringing it up right before bed, so they don’t go to bed anxious.
Make time every night to ask questions and listen to their concerns
This one is a little different than #2 in the sense that it will focus more on the conversation, allowing your child to voice any concerns and letting you answer any questions they might have. Keep the conversation light and let them guide it— think quality over quantity. It might not be a long and deep conversation, especially if you have a younger child, but it will be exactly what they need. Come prepared with a topic but keep the questions and dialogue positive and easy to process.
Practice positive affirmations to help build confidence
Practicing positive affirmations with your children can help them develop the support and confidence they need to get through difficult situations where you can’t be there to help. Our children are in a new environment, surrounded by new people, and experiencing a significant change in their lives all at once— positive affirmations can help rewire their mood and attitude and get them to start believing in themselves. Here are 30 back to school affirmations to help children build confidence this school year.
Focus on supporting your child in the way you know best
Nobody knows your child better than you! Think about what makes them feel safe and happy and lean into that. Whether it’s a cartoon character, a lucky t-shirt, a secret handshake, or a special snack. Find ways to incorporate these into the routine or their day to help boost their confidence and mood. Plus, it’s a great way to let them know a part of you is always there, and you’re thinking of them.
Enjoy the last days of Summer
This one doesn’t need much explaining, but I wanted to include it as a reminder. Sure, there are a ton of items to check off our list as we prepare for back to school, and stress and anxiety will start creeping in, but it is essential to make time to pause and live in the moment as much as possible. If you can take time off (use PTO), that is great; otherwise, use your weekends to enjoy the last days of Summer as a family. Nothing is better for our mental health and wellness than taking a break, especially before a big transition.
Additional Resources
(for younger children*)
Articles
5 Tips to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety by Johns Hopkins Medicine
15 Questions to Replace ‘How Was School Today? by edutopia
Books
Back to school booklist* curated by I Have a Book 4 That
Videos
For Teachers
