It is that time of year where summer festivities are winding down and families are preparing to return back to the busyness of the school year. This transition can sometimes be difficult with children becoming used to the ease of summer with minimal scheduling to then going back to the structure of the school day and after school activities. Because of this, it is important to help aid this transition in an effort to make our children have a successful shift into the school year. Here are some strategies that may benefit your child as they prepare for upcoming school year:
Begin setting appropriate bedtime routines During the summer, it’s common for bed time schedules to become more lax knowing that our children do not have to be up early. With school time approaching, it’s beneficial to begin starting appropriate bedtime routines. Discuss a time that is appropriate for your child to get to bed based on the time that they would have to get up for school. Additionally, create, or recreate, bedtime activities that promote good sleep and relaxation. A common exercise to practice for children, and also parents, is the 3-2-1 method. With this method, the idea is that the individual should limit eating and drinking 3 hours prior to their bedtime, be done with work or strenuous activities 2 hours before bedtime and cease electronic use 1 hour before bedtime to create less stimulation and promote relaxation.
Implement rules surrounding electronics use and limit screen time It’s easy for children to resort to their screens and electronics during the summer due to having less activities to engage in. Happens to all of us! As your family begins to transition back to the school year, begin limiting screen time for your child and promote activities, such as reading, puzzles, or imaginative play. Additionally, it is important to begin having discussions surrounding rules of electronic use during the school year. This could be reminding your child that they do not keep their phone or tablets in their rooms at night time, or they only get a certain amount of electronic use during the school day. Prepare your child with these conversations now to avoid any surprises for them later on!
Organize supplies together and do a practice run of a school day Begin preparing your child for the school year by going over the supplies they need. Make it fun and encouraging by allowing them to choose their supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. When supplies are organized, consider doing a practice run of what a school day will look like. This could be taking a day to have your child wake up as they would during a school day, get ready, and get them familiar with their route to school. Once back home, discuss with them any after school activities or extracurricular activities they may engage in and create after school routines. This could be having a quick snack time, completing homework, and getting ready for their activity.
Encourage positive associations For some children, going back to school can be anxiety provoking. It’s important that as parents, we begin to encourage positive thinking surrounding school, especially if this is your child’s first experience with school. Speak positively and enthusiastically about school and all the fun possibilities of learning new things and gaining more knowledge. Perhaps you can engage in pretend play scenarios and take turns with different roles (i.e. child as the teacher, parent as the student, vice versa).
Promote independence at home Nurturing independence at home can build confidence, self-discipline, and enthusiasm in a child. Involve your child in completing daily tasks and perhaps create age-appropriate challenges with certain tasks. Keep in mind, your child may not be able to fully complete some activities, or in some instances, fail to complete a task. In conjunction with gaining independence, it is also important to teach your child how to navigate through failures in a healthy way. This will promote resilience in your child, which they can carry with them into the school year.
It can be a bittersweet feeling with summer ending and school beginning! However, the most important thing parents can do during this time is set the tone for their child on how the school year can and will be. Model good routines for your child and get them excited for the school year ahead!
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