The Village - How to transition back into school-mode
LEARN
How to transition back into school-mode
By Karen Robock
My nine-year-old loves a new backpack; my five-year-old is all about the first day outfit –– and the accessories! And while it’s fun to shop for school supplies (and I do think it should be fun!) there’s a lot more that goes into a successful back-to-school plan.
Beyond shopping for new notebooks, registering for after-school activities and creating lunchbox menu plans, the back-to-school transition requires helping our children navigate their natural anxiety about change. Kids also require tools to help them cope with fears about what their new teacher might be like, worries about who will be on the school bus, and to manage the excitement that a new year brings.
Whether your kids are transitioning to a new grade, moving to a whole new school, or even easing back into in-person learning after schooling online during the pandemic, setting everyone off on the right foot comes down to some simple strategies, basic planning, and the right routines.
My kids, who will be transitioning to grades five and one this September, have thrived when back-to-school is predictable and practised. Here are some suggestions to successfully ease kids into the return to class this fall.
Visit the school together
If you have a kindergartener, or a child who has been remote learning at home, an in-person visit during the week or two before school starts can help to ease their anxiety, since it will give them a better idea of what to expect. Reach out to your school’s principal to request a meeting where you can tour the classroom, cafeteria, library and check out the playground (be sure to stay and play!)
Create a family calendar
Use a chalkboard, dry erase space or even a sheet of paper tacked to the fridge, to create a visual countdown calendar showing your kids exactly when they will be returning to class. As the school year progresses, use it to keep track of play dates, after-school activities and holidays.
Designate a homework spot
A homework station provides a place to store supplies and sets the stage for a routine that keeps distractions to a minimum. Young kids will know where to go to find crayons and paper, and older kids have a quiet place to concentrate. If you don’t have a home office, a nook in a hallway or on a landing could do the trick.
Re-establish bedtime
In the one to two weeks before the first day, gradually return your child to their usual school day wake and sleep routines. Roll bedtime back by 15 minutes a day, until you reach your desired lights-out time, then keep it up until school starts. Same goes for mornings: help your little one to get up close to the time they will need to be out of bed on school days.
“Your best bet is to do the same thing – every single morning”
Streamline your morning routine
Your best bet is to do the same thing – every single morning (think of Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day and lean into the repetition!) Wake them up at the same time, eat breakfast (following a limited number of easy options of their choosing), get dressed, brush teeth, and out the door. Kids love predictability and you’ll encounter less resistance if they know what’s happening and when. Another strategy that has always helped at my house is to do as much as possible the night before. In the evening, we check the weather, choose outfits, and pack backpacks with library books, homework, and anything else they will need for the next day (except for lunch bags and water bottles).
Have a goodbye routine
Over the past few years, kids have been with their parents more than ever, making separation anxiety more common, even in school-age kids. In the weeks leading up to the first day of school, little ones might benefit from practising separating more often (even by playing solo in their bedroom while Dad cooks in the kitchen, for example). Some families also swear by a set goodbye routine. For example, maybe Mom always gives a hug, a high-five and says, “have a great day,” before she goes. Kids can find comfort in that consistency. If you practise your special goodbye during day camp drop-offs, or play dates throughout the summer, you can feel confident that they’ll be ready for the big day.
LEARN
How to transition back into school-mode
By Karen Robock
My nine-year-old loves a new backpack; my five-year-old is all about the first day outfit –– and the accessories! And while it’s fun to shop for school supplies (and I do think it should be fun!) there’s a lot more that goes into a successful back-to-school plan.
Beyond shopping for new notebooks, registering for after-school activities and creating lunchbox menu plans, the back-to-school transition requires helping our children navigate their natural anxiety about change. Kids also require tools to help them cope with fears about what their new teacher might be like, worries about who will be on the school bus, and to manage the excitement that a new year brings.
Whether your kids are transitioning to a new grade, moving to a whole new school, or even easing back into in-person learning after schooling online during the pandemic, setting everyone off on the right foot comes down to some simple strategies, basic planning, and the right routines.
My kids, who will be transitioning to grades five and one this September, have thrived when back-to-school is predictable and practised. Here are some suggestions to successfully ease kids into the return to class this fall.
Visit the school together
If you have a kindergartener, or a child who has been remote learning at home, an in-person visit during the week or two before school starts can help to ease their anxiety, since it will give them a better idea of what to expect. Reach out to your school’s principal to request a meeting where you can tour the classroom, cafeteria, library and check out the playground (be sure to stay and play!)
Create a family calendar
Use a chalkboard, dry erase space or even a sheet of paper tacked to the fridge, to create a visual countdown calendar showing your kids exactly when they will be returning to class. As the school year progresses, use it to keep track of play dates, after-school activities and holidays.
Designate a homework spot
A homework station provides a place to store supplies and sets the stage for a routine that keeps distractions to a minimum. Young kids will know where to go to find crayons and paper, and older kids have a quiet place to concentrate. If you don’t have a home office, a nook in a hallway or on a landing could do the trick.
Re-establish bedtime
In the one to two weeks before the first day, gradually return your child to their usual school day wake and sleep routines. Roll bedtime back by 15 minutes a day, until you reach your desired lights-out time, then keep it up until school starts. Same goes for mornings: help your little one to get up close to the time they will need to be out of bed on school days.
“Your best bet is to do the same thing – every single morning”
Streamline your morning routine
Your best bet is to do the same thing – every single morning (think of Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day and lean into the repetition!) Wake them up at the same time, eat breakfast (following a limited number of easy options of their choosing), get dressed, brush teeth, and out the door. Kids love predictability and you’ll encounter less resistance if they know what’s happening and when. Another strategy that has always helped at my house is to do as much as possible the night before. In the evening, we check the weather, choose outfits, and pack backpacks with library books, homework, and anything else they will need for the next day (except for lunch bags and water bottles).
Have a goodbye routine
Over the past few years, kids have been with their parents more than ever, making separation anxiety more common, even in school-age kids. In the weeks leading up to the first day of school, little ones might benefit from practising separating more often (even by playing solo in their bedroom while Dad cooks in the kitchen, for example). Some families also swear by a set goodbye routine. For example, maybe Mom always gives a hug, a high-five and says, “have a great day,” before she goes. Kids can find comfort in that consistency. If you practise your special goodbye during day camp drop-offs, or play dates throughout the summer, you can feel confident that they’ll be ready for the big day.