The month of August is typically busy for parents who are trying to get their children ready to go back to school. There are supplies to be bought, schedules to figure out, and after-school extracurriculars to plan.
Although it’s a busy time, it’s important to sit down with your child and talk about a new school year. There will be a new teacher, new classmates, and maybe even a new school. How does your child feel about it all? Do they have any concerns?
Here are four different ways to help your child through those new school year jitters.
- Give your child something special to take with them. For many children in elementary school, the hardest part of their day will be saying goodbye to you. Aha! Parenting suggests coming up with a ritual that you both can take part in before your child leaves for school: a big hug, a kiss on the forehead and both cheeks, a secret handshake, or a fun saying. In their pencil box, tape a photo of the family. Put a note in their lunchbox or book bag for them to find later.
- Take a trial run. If your child is worried about getting lost in a new school, take some time to tour the school prior to the first day in order to help calm your child’s anxieties. This tip is especially important for the milestone years: going into pre-school, kindergarten, middle school, and high school. If you can find out what classroom your elementary student will be in, set up a visit ahead of time so that your student knows exactly where to go on the first day. For middle and high school students, get a copy of their schedule and go around to the different classrooms so that your student can familiarize themselves with rooms.
- Remind them of what’s to come. If your child is big into sports, remind them that football or volleyball is just around the corner. Remind them that their youth group will be starting up again. Get them excited about what new things they will be learning in their favorite class.
- Spend time talking about their day. When you get home from work or pick them up from school, be excited to talk about their day. Ask them how it went, the different things they learned, and what they’re looking forward to.
Keeping the lines of communication open is one of the most important things you can do as a parent, and a little preparation can go a long way towards easing the way during this potentially stressful transition for your child. When your son or daughter knows you’re behind them, it will be easier to take those big steps into the world.
Do you have any helpful tips to pass along to other parents? Share them with us on Twitter or Facebook. If you would like to set up an appointment to see Reka, you can reach her at 402-881-8125. You can also email her at reka@omaha-counseling.com.
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