From PBS.org, "Tips and Tools for A Successful Back-to-School"

Jul 28
2 min read

It’s back-to-school time! Heading back to school is a big moment in a child’s life. This is especially true if they are starting a new school or moving from elementary to middle or high school. PBS has a great list of resources for parents and guardians for back-to-school. With articles, videos, book recommendations, and downloadable checklists, we wanted to share this resource with our patients and their families. We also have highlighted some tips we think can help your child thrive this fall.

From “How to Handle a Tough First Day of School,” by Deborah Farmer Kris, four ways you can help kids navigate heading back to school.

Talk about what to expect in advance

Talk to your child about what school will look like in simple, practical terms. What are the names of their teachers? What will the morning routine at home look like? What will they need to put in their backpack each day? How will they get to school? What will they eat for lunch? How will they get home?

Prepare for big emotions.

It takes a lot of energy to adjust to a new routine and get to know new teachers and classmates. As one of my favorite kindergarten teachers reminds families, it takes most children six weeks to adjust to a new school year. Those after-school tantrums are normal and don’t mean they are having a terrible time at school!

Kids often hold in their emotions during the day. After all, you’ve spent years helping them develop strategies to manage their behavior and work well in groups. But undoubtedly at least one thing happens every day that makes them feel worried, sad, or confused. Those feelings often come spilling out in the safety of home. Create a predictable after-school routine, including a snack and some downtime. And when your child does have a meltdown, stay close and stay calm. The storm will pass, and then we can help them work through the emotions behind it.

Express your confidence in them.

Children read our emotions for cues about how they should react. If we express our confidence in them, they will pick up on this. When something goes wrong, you can also use it as an opportunity to express your confidence in them:

Thanks for telling me what happened. We will figure this out together.
Wow, that sounds like a tough situation at recess. You did the right thing to tell your teacher.
I know you were really nervous about ____, but you did it. You are so brave.
Learning something new can be so frustrating. But you keep working at it. That’s perseverance.

Reach out to the teacher.

The parent-teacher relationship is so key to helping kids thrive. If you notice your child struggling academically, socially, or emotionally, reach out to your child’s teacher. If you have questions about the classroom or your child’s progress, reach out! You do not need to wait for the first parent-teacher conference to make contact.

This article and more can be found at PBS.org!

*This article is informational and is not a substitute for medical attention or information from your provider.