Can you believe it, the long summer vacation is nearly over? The next few weeks mark a delicate and crucial transition for your child or teen… a transition that can influence their success and wellbeing for the year ahead. If your child is switching schools, has learning, social or family problems the transition can be more difficult.
Some of the success of this coming transition is down to factors outside your control, but there are many ways you can prepare to smooth the process.
13 ways to prepare for the big return to school
- Before school returns
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Health and wellbeing
Organize any medical or dental appointments needed to ensure your child returns to school in good health. Ensure that health forms are completed and sent to the school nurse or team coaches.
2. School information
Check the mail and email for communications from the school. Mark essential dates on your calendar for the coming year, put reminders on your phone for events (practice times etc), print of the schedule and check that paperwork is up to date. If your child has additional needs consider getting in touch with teachers to let them know about your child. Don’t assume they will have been given all the relevant info on your child, or that they have had time to read it. Check and check again, if there are any assignments that are not yet completed. There is nothing worse than having to read a novel, watch a movie and write a report on the last day of the vacation… believe me, we have been there!
3. Buy stuff
If you haven’t already get a list of supplies from the school, then shop. Go early in the day to avoid the craziness at the store. These lists seem to be commonly available for younger children. For teens, they may not find out until the first week, but there is no harm in stocking up on writing paper and plain folders. The week before school starts is a great time to sort out their closet: completely empty it and only return clothes that fit and are still wearable. Then plan a clothes shopping trip, with a comprehensive list of what’s needed (if you’re savvy you’ll keep a look out for sales and tax-free offers). Always check the school’s clothing policy before you spend a fortune on clothes that are unsuitable. If you work or are short on time online shopping is the way forward, but allow time for delivery.
4. Begin to switch the routine
Over the week before school starts, gradually shift bed-time and mealtimes towards the school routine. You may want to take advantage of any good habits learned at summer camp, such as bed-making in the morning and make this the new norm. You may want to formally document the house rules for the year ahead and discuss it with your child. For example: “no screen time Monday-Thursday until all homework is completed” or “bedtime is at 7… 9… or 11 on school nights” . If you have a difficult child, consider getting them to sign the house rules so that there are no arguments later. You may also want to consider putting a reward system in place, to encourage your child to follow the rules.
5. Visit the school
If your child is moving schools or is unsettled by change, try and visit the school and check out the new classrooms, locker, dining hall etc. For children with special needs, a social story with photographs can be a great aid for transition. If you have moved or if it’s a new school, practice the journey to and from school, and be explicit. We moved one year during the summer, one year and on the first day I lost both my middle schoolers… one got off at the wrong stop and snuck in the house while I was at the bus stop and the other decided to walk to town with a friend, all in the pouring rain. The bus company must have thought I was crazy, calling them to ask the whereabouts of both my kids… not a good start to the year!
6. Create new habits
Always frustrated that your kids dump their bag on the stairs or don’t take their shoes off? The beginning of the school year is a great time to develop new tidy habits. Tell your child exactly where things are to be put, and EVERY time you find something out of place, call them back to correct their error, no matter what they are doing. Soon it will be more trouble to be messy than to put things in the right place, at the outset.
7. Plan the first week’s meals
Reduce your own stress by planning meals for the week ahead… once less thing to worry about when the craziness begins. If your child is taking a packed lunch, review their tastes and plan a healthy lunch. If they are buying lunch discuss your rules for this… yes some kids think a muffin and bag of chips are a balanced meal.
- The first days
Your child may need you to be available to pick up the slack in the coming days, so try and minimize your outside commitments. That way you can be available for whatever the first days throw at your and your child.
9. Be organized
Set alarms for wake-up and activities and leave plenty of time to get things done. Go through their bag with them every night to check if there are letters to be signed, supplies to be bought, first night assignments etc. Be patient and empathic towards your child, who may be finding things a little overwhelming
10. Talk to your child
Make sure your child knows that they can talk to you. You know your child best… some like to tell you every detail, others like to shrug and grunt. Keep the avenues of communication open and don’t push it. Listen without judgement and offer advice sparingly… they need to figure some things out for themselves. Try not to overschedule them in the first weeks, they may be very tired. Tell them stories of your childhood and times you messed up, children love to hear that their parents are human too.
11. Get involved
Attend school events as much as your schedule and patience allow. Inform teachers that you would like to be informed of problems early on. Try and get to know any professionals your child may have contact with on a regular basis such as the school nurse if they have a health problem or the counselor if they have behavioral problems.
12. Plan ahead
If your child has a big year ahead, such as senior year of High School, start planning early. There are lots of tools and checklists online, so utilize them, that way you won’t get caught out with deadlines and make an already stressful time much worse. For kids in other grades, try and find out if there are big projects during the school year, that your child might need help with.
13. Reward yourself
No matter how the summer has gone, plan a little reward for yourself… a haircut, coffee with a friend you’ve missed over the summer, a yoga class or just some simple “me-time”… you deserve it! Think about what you want to achieve in the year ahead… return to work, learn to paint, apply for a promotion, climb a mountain, volunteer, take a class… whatever it is, now is the time to start planning to optimize your year ahead.
With a whole new school year dawning, now is the perfect time to get organized and ahead of the game and minimize potential stress for you, your child and your whole family and make 2015-16 a fabulous year!
Written by Dr Leonaura Rhodes
Author of “Beyond Soccer Mom: strategies for a fabulous balanced life”, Health and Happiness Coach, physician, neuroscience geek and busy mom.
Image courtesy of iStock.