Summer is beginning to wind down and that means the new school year is just around the corner. This happens every year, but that doesn’t mean it gets any easier. As family life starts to get more hectic, we have a few tips that can help make that transition easier!
Start the sleep routine early!
The summer routine is most likely very different than one the rest of the year. To help ease that shock of early bedtimes, early mornings, and catching the bus or ride to school, start easing into that time early. Children may be used to going to sleep later and waking up later, so a new schedule can be difficult to acclimate to. To help your child be successful, gradually start shifting bedtimes and wake up times, reducing screen time, and making sure meals are happening at regular times. Discuss what their morning and bedtime routine will look like, and what is expected of them. Based on their age, you can help build a schedule or checklist of everything they need to get done before going to bed and going to school. Check out this sample morning and bedtime routines here!
Talk to your child about safe transportation!
Whether your child walks, rides their bike, takes the bus, drives themselves, or gets a ride to school, it is important to talk with them about being safe.
If they walk or bike make sure to review the rules of the road and what exact route they take. For your older kids who have cell phones, talk with them about distracted walking and to never walk and text.
If they take the bus remind them that the bus driver has a very important job of getting all the other kids to school safely, and so they need their help by behaving and being safe in their seats while on the bus.
Car crashes are one of the highest causes of death for teens. For your new teen driver, remember to continue practicing with them even after they get their license. Talk with them about the importance of being safe and what your expectations are. A simple way to outline the rules is to create a parent-teen driving agreement, which clearly sets up the responsibilities of your teen as a driver. This document is flexible and as they become more experienced it can change. Check out an example agreement here!
Discuss excitements and concerns!
Talking and listening to your child before school starts about the upcoming year is a great way help build trust and allow you to support them through the process of returning to school. Open communication is key, both before school starts and during the first few months of starting school again. As your child starts with a new teacher, new classmates, and potentially a new school, they are going to be filled with many new experiences, some good and some challenging. Set time each day or week to talk to your child about their challenges and new experiences at school. Help them work through and let them know that these feelings they are having while transitioning to the new school year are completely normal. Not sure where to begin? Check out some of these questions that could help spark some conversations on returning to school.
Get to know your new teachers!
Your teacher gets to know your child and how they behave without a caregiver present. This means parents can get all kinds of information about a child from their teacher—information about learning difficulties and peer problems, as well as academic achievements and close friendships. Teachers are allies, and you should talk to them regularly.
Good questions to ask include: How is my child doing? Do you have any concerns about their social or academic skills? Do you think they need my help with anything?
Remember, this relationship goes both ways! There are also some important things you can share with the teacher about your child that will help them make a better connection. Check those out here.
Check in with yourself!
As parents and caregivers, it’s also important that we check in with ourselves! Are there fears we have about our child returning to school? Checking in with ourselves and our own mental health will help us to be more aware of what we might be unknowingly projecting on to our kids. You can learn more about supporting yourself as the school year starts here.
Additional Resources:
More information on school mornings without stress: https://childmind.org/article/school-mornings-without-the-stress/
Signs of mental health or behavioral concerns in children and teens: https://kidsmindsmatter.com/tips-for-back-to-school-childrens-mental-health/
More on staying safe getting to school: https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/seasonal-safety/back-to-school
General caregiver resources: https://www.family.cmho.org/school-mental-health/
About the author:
Adam is the Community Engagement Team Lead/Health Educator at the Health Department. Adam has been with JCHD for over 4 years, and in the field of public health for close to 7 years! Adam enjoys working with county youth to help build strong, healthy habits they can take with them for the rest of their lives! In his free time, he enjoys woodworking and hiking with his wife Morgan.
MCH Publicity Statement: This project is/was funded in part by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Maternal and Child Health Services Contract #AOC18380095, and is/was supported by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #B04MC30623, Maternal and Child Health Services for $12,107,084, of which $0 is from non-governmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.