5 Tips to Help Your Child Transition to Going Back to School

Adjusting to going back to school after a summer break can be difficult and exciting at the same time. With some forethought, these simple strategies may ease the transition for everyone in the house.

Get Good Sleep

It’s no secret that sleep is foundational to emotional regulation. Coping with anything is harder when we haven’t slept (especially for kids!)

When you prioritize everyone’s sleep, everyone’s emotional capacity becomes bigger (especially when a lot of change is happening). Commit to early nights before school starts back and check in with yourself as a parent and ensure you’re getting good sleep, too.

Practice Routines

The few weeks before school starts, make mornings similar to those of a school week. Waking up a similar time, getting ready, eating breakfast, filling up the water bottle, etc. This way, nothing is forgotten and you are already in the school swing of things. Do the same for afternoon and night routines. Have them do chores and get ready for bed at a similar time they would for school.

Don’t rush

Design your routines so that you don’t find yourself saying ‘Hurry up and get in the car!’ or “Hurry up and finish getting ready!” Consider what needs to happen or change so you’re not chronically rushing your kids or yourself.

Focus on Quality Time Rather Than Questions

Once your kids get back into the full swing of things, focus on spending quality time with them rather than asking a lot of questions like “How was your day” or “What did you learn?” The adjustment to change can be emotionally exhausting. Instead, focus on spending time with them and they will most likely want to share more later.

Be Mindful of their time to Adjust

Transitions are stressful, regardless of a positive or negative transition. Getting back into something challenging after a break is challenging. All kids (and adults) adjust differently to change. Be mindful that it may take longer for one of your kids to adjust than another. They may have a new teacher, starting at a new school, making new friends, new routines, etc. Be patient and compassionate as they’re trying to understand their new world they just stepped into and didn’t necessarily ask for.  Be patient with yourself as a parent and remind yourself that this is a change for you, too.

Supporting yourself in new routines can only benefit your child through change. Whether your child is feeling excited or anxious about going back to school, a few strategies can be helpful to making the beginning of the new school year easier.

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