The school season helps kids reunite with friends, resume activities, and start a positive, memorable year.
Unfortunately, there are exceptions, and this is not always the case with every child. Starting a new school or facing unkind behavior can cause fear, anxiety, or panic about the unknown.
With any of the aforementioned scenarios always looming as possibilities, here are five ways to help your child make a successful transition from summer to successful start to school.
This IS a big deal for kids dreading this week. Celebrate with a favorite meal, outing, or special family time. This creates a positive, supportive environment and builds a strong foundation of encouragement for the school year ahead.
We need to tell our children that it’s okay to feel nervous as the school year begins (or even after). Share a time when you’ve been nervous, your honesty can help your child and build your relationship with them.
When they share how they are feeling let them know you’re glad they told you. It allows both of you to discuss things open and freely.
Just as adults need to decompress, so do kids, and we need to have routines set in place for them. Provide an opportunity for some downtime. This can be a quiet ride home in the car, or a snack after they get off the noisy bus. There is also an opportunity for this after homework, where you can establish an organized area/study for. As we’ve previously discussed, there’s after school activities that can help broaden your child’s interests and develop new interests.
Try not to ask a ton of questions about their day. Rather, let them know you are interested, and that you can’t wait to hear about everything when they’re ready to talk about it, perhaps during dinner.
Yes, this works! My little one is an only child, so many personal breakthroughs/developments stem from creative scenarios/solutions provided from mom and dad. This, of course, will differ from lessons learned through personal experiences with siblings.
Whether you’re using action figures, stuffed animals or both, you can practice simple but effective dialogue such as, “Hi, I’m _______. Do you want to play with me? I like to play with dinosaurs, too! Let’s play!”
Just like in real life, however, kids can be fickle. They might not be ready to play or open up to your child upon their initial interaction. Possibly offer a, “No, I really don’t want to play right now, but maybe another time,” or “I promised Suzy that I would help them with (activity of your choice).”
These varied responses will help enable your child to react in a way they might not be familiar with, which once again reverts back to reconciling your positive and negative emotions. Having your child equipped to handle multiple situations and results will prepare them in the best way possible when these are presented in real time. I’ve seen my child in action after role-playing with me, and the results made me so proud.
Finally, no matter how smart or happy your child is, there’s going to be bumps in the road. Over the course of the school year, this is unavoidable. There could be a period of time where they might have trouble focusing due to difficulties with classmates, disappointment regarding their grades, struggling with school sports, or all of the above.
It’s imperative during this time to make sure your child stays on an even keel. Helping them navigate their emotional intelligence; reconciling their positive and negative emotions are key. At times, it’s hard for an adult to come to terms with this, let alone a small child or teenager during pivotal moments in their development. Moreover, there’s a fine line between constantly prying into your child’s life (which can heighten anxiety), and helping them develop coping skills. Overall, the best thing to do is be there for them.
Maggie Vallee is a dedicated educator with more than 20 years of experience teaching and supporting students across a variety of school systems and grade levels. In addition to her work as an educator, Maggie is a devoted and loving mother who understands the importance of nurturing confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. Her experiences both in the classroom and at home have shaped her compassionate perspective on education, allowing her to connect with students and families alike.
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Photo: Pexels/Norma Mortenson
