Back to School: Planning for a Smooth Transition

 

Once again, that back-to-school time of the year is just around the corner. And with summer vacation soon drawing to a close, that leads to a considerable transition for you and your child.

No, it’s not as big of a change as moving out of state or changing jobs. The newness of it all may feel that big to your child, however.

It’s remarkable just how different life can be for your child when summer and the school year are compared and contrasted. That being the case, now is a great time to prep your child so their transition (and yours) goes as smoothly as possible.

Here are a few ideas to consider as you help your child get ready for another successful year at school.

Consider Adding Some Structure to Your Child’s Day

All families are different. For some children, they go through their summer vacation with little to no daily schedule or structure. Others experience quite the opposite.

In most cases, it’s safe to say that your child has less structure in the summertime than during the school year.

It’s a much-needed change of pace. Your child needs a break after all.

But if a relatively structureless summer existence persists right up until school starts, beginning school could feel like hitting a brick wall to your child.

Boom!

Your child goes from little structure to a packed and regimented daily grind. Heading back to school winds up being way harder than it needs to be.

Such experiences can be overwhelming and stressful for parents and children alike. It can also increase the chances that your child could act out in class or at home. Your child could also struggle to start the school year strong in this case.

The best way to avoid this problem is to slowly add structure to your child’s day as school draws near. This means slow adjustments to your schedule such as setting a waking time and bedtime. Try something like ten-minute increment changes each day.

This also means encouraging your child to maintain a healthy diet and to get plenty of daily exercise.

You can also add structure throughout the day with small bursts of learning such as watching an educational video, reading a book or practicing writing skills by sending letters to a friend or family.

Make the Most of Your Remaining Summer Family Time

Now is the perfect time to maximize summer family time with your child. To squeeze in those last-minute relationship-building activities.

Although the fun side of these activities are important, there’s something else going on. You’re helping your child to relax, get to know you better and to feel comfortable and stable in their relationship with you.

That stability you achieve in the next few weeks can help to give your child the extra confidence to tackle a new school year head on.

Sure, there’ll still be some jitters for you and your child as that first day draws near. That’s to be expected when it’s time to go back to school. But spending quality time with your child will make that transition go smoother.

Communicate with Your Child About their Back-to-School Fears

Often just asking the right questions can lower stress levels. Help validate your child’s fears and let them know that it’s normal to have some anxiety over the unknown.

“Asking your children about their fears or worries about going back to school will help them share their burden,” says Dr. Erlanger Turner in his Psychology Today article, “Helping Your Child Transition to School.”

Assure your child that eventually they’ll find a new routine that works for them. Just like in previous school years, your child will eventually adjust.

You can also help by communicating about things that excite your child about a new school year. Maybe they look forward to catching up with friends, athletics or learning about a particular subject.

This positive anticipation likely won’t erase your child’s fears. It will aid in making them more manageable, though. And that’s just what you want during this adjustment.

In Conclusion, Stay Positive About Going Back to School

Your child will likely mirror whatever you model during the back-to-school transition.

If you exude fear and anxiety, your child will almost certainly exhibit the same. On the other hand, if you display confidence and a positive attitude about your child’s upcoming transition, your child will likely exhibit the same attitude.

But perhaps you could benefit from some professional assistance to help you and your child get ready for the new school year.

It could be that you’ve gone through a rough patch this summer for a variety of reasons. Maybe you fear your child’s transition could be more challenging than normal this time around.

Regardless of the reason, you are always welcome at Therapy With Compassion. We offer evidence-based solutions to the challenges you face. You can schedule an appointment today and help yourself and your child make heading back to school a positive experience for all involved.