Many school districts across the country are reopening for the 2014 – 2015 school year on Monday. The end of summer often brings anxiety as kids get prepare to get back to school after the long break. For some, entering the next grade level means a transition to a new middle or high school. For others the nervousness is tied in with not having seen friends over the summer and where they will fit their peer group in when school resumes. Most will transition into new classrooms with a teacher they haven’t had before and then there’s the family that had to move due to a parent’s job requirements and the child will be starting all over. No matter what the situation, the transition can be stressful and it’s completely normal if your child is feeling anxious. As a caregiver there are certain tried and true parenting techniques you can do to ease the tension as much as possible.
First, encourage your child to open up and talk about his concerns and fears a few weeks prior to the first day. Revisit this discussion as the time gets closer and then set a regular time at least in your own mind, to talk about their feelings each day after school for at least the first two months. Sitting down face-to-face might make them feel uncomfortable, so try the car ride home or if they need time to unwind, walking the dog together after dinner works well. During this time, pay attention to how you are acting. If you are stressed and talking about the negative aspects of a particular teacher, this will transfer to your child’s feelings. Be understanding; yet take this time to reiterate your confidence in the school, the teachers and their peer group. Remind them that it is normal for things to take a couple weeks to get used to.
Furthermore, children of all ages do much better when they feel like they are entering the new school year with a strong friend group. Take away the worry of who they will eat lunch with by setting up play dates for the younger ones and encouraging the older ones to reconnect with old friends. Host something at your house or enable them to meet up at the beach, a park or the mall so they can get reacquainted.
Another key ingredient is to get your house organized! Set up a spot to hang up or put their backpack everyday, a comfortable study area, a place where all the school supplies are kept and an alarm clock to help wake them up in the morning. Kids thrive with routine and knowing what to expect. This also teaches them good skills to carry without them throughout life.
Finally, make a dry run through a couple of times before school starts. Drive the route you will take or walk with them to show the way so you can predict how much time is needed to get their safely on time. Walk around campus and find their classroom, the cafeteria, their locker and where the bathrooms are. The more prep work you do prior to the first week of school, the more confident and prepared your child will feel to face the new challenges of the upcoming academic year.