Going back to school can be challenging for both students and parents. The pressure to perform well, the fear of the unknown, anxiety caused by unfamiliarity, and adjusting to a new routine can all be a cause of moodiness and anxiety around resumption time. The only way to manage these blues is by changing how you approach school resumption and how your kids react.
Try these tips to help your kids adjust better when a new school year starts:
Get the kids back to a school routine early
Don’t wait until school starts to get your kids back into a school mindset. Start making changes about 2-3 weeks before school starts. Adjust their bedtime a little each week until they are going to bed at an appropriate time. Get them into the system of waking up, showering, getting dressed, and doing any chores if they have any. Establishing a routine weeks before school starts will save you stress and time wrangling with the kids when school finally starts. This will also give them time to transition from summer to school with ease.
Take them back-to-school shopping
Shopping for new school accessories is an easy way to get your little one excited for school to begin. Allow them to pick out their own school bags, stationeries, socks, and shoes. You can even make shopping a game to ensure that you stay within budget. You can ask them to pick any school bag of their choice below a certain amount. They will jump at the chance to shop for themselves and will be excited to show off their new things on the first day of school.
Deal with your own blues
Back-to-school anxiety is not limited to kids alone; parents battle these blues as well. You might find that you are unable to sleep or enjoy your hobbies, or that school resumption is consuming your thoughts. Getting a routine prepared will help you adjust to combining school chores with your regular tasks. If you find the thought very dreadful, share your concerns with your partner, a counselor, or a therapist. You can also go online to find helpful resources and tips.
Let them know they can talk to you
If your child is really sad about not going back to school, talk to them about it. Parents tend to assume that children are being lazy or trying to avoid work; while this may be true, it may also be hiding a serious problem. Ask them if they feel anxious, worried, or scared? Find out why. Are they being bullied by students or a teacher? Are they anxious about starting a new class or going to a new school? Do they feel marginalized in any way? Listen to them carefully, don’t minimize their concerns, and try to help anyway you can.
Get them thinking about the positives
Distract your child with all the fun and opportunities that the new school year can bring. If they are moving up to a higher class, let them know that they could apply for prefectship this year or be allowed to go a school trip only open to a particular class such as sea school. If they are very athletic, remind them that this year to compete in the school inter-house sports or set a new record in their preferred sporting activity. If you get them thinking about the positives, you build their excitement and diminish their fear.
Conclusion
A new school year brings a lot of change and it can be scary for your kids to navigate. Your role is to encourage them, assuage their fears, and help them manage any overwhelming emotions they might have about resumption.
