The transition back to school can be overwhelming for children. Explaining the changes and setting expectations can help them feel better prepared for the new year.
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New teachers, classmates, routines, and expectations—a new school year almost always means changes for children and their caregivers. This is nerve-wracking for everyone.
To help families ease the transition, Life Kit asked teachers, pediatricians, and child development experts for their best advice for back-to-school. These tips have been edited for length and clarity.
😴 Adjust your child’s summer sleep schedule to school schedules. At least a week or two before school starts, increase your bedtime and wake-up time by 15 minutes every few days until you achieve your desired schedule. —PhD. Nilon Vyaspediatricians and sleep consultants
📚Gradually reintroduce structure into your child’s daily life Help them prepare for school. Incorporate 15 minutes of educational content into your child’s daily routine, e.g. Read alouds, math puzzles, or science experiments. —Keisha SiribaughEarly Childhood Literacy Consultant
🗯 Remind kids that almost everyone feels a little nervous on the first day of school. Naming and describing an emotion lets your child know that you understand how they are feeling, which can help them better manage their emotions instead of being overwhelmed by them. —Leah Olchnikpediatric psychologist
🗓 To ease your child’s anxiety about returning to school, help them understand what to expect. As Daniel Tiger sang, “When we do something new, let’s talk about what we’re going to do.” Remind them that “The adults are back.” [at the end of the school day] -They can share their new experiences at school with their loved ones. –Mallory MbaliaDirector of Learning and Education fred rogers production corp.producer of television programs Daniel Tiger’s Community
❓Discuss with your child how they handle challenging situations, Even if they are unlikely to happen. For example, if your son is worried about getting lost at a new school, create a plan to help him deal with the problem and tell him what he would do if that happened so he will feel more prepared and confident. —Leah Orchinik, pediatric psychologist
👋 Create a special farewell ceremony together. Saying goodbye in the morning can be challenging. But you can create everyday memories for your children to cherish for years to come. Say, “Bye, crocodile! Later, crocodile!”, give a special handshake or enjoy an extra-long hug. You can also kiss your child’s palm and then hold their hand tightly to “seal it.” Tell your kids to remember that they will carry your kisses with them all day long, and they can do the same for you! —Janet Bettencourt, Sesame Workshop
☕️ Fill their connection cups before and after school. Even if you’re tired in the morning, set your alarm 15 minutes earlier so you can cuddle up with your kids. Read a book together. Have breakfast together. When you pick them up from school, please note that they will need another Connect Cup top-up. Sometimes they have meltdowns after school because they are so exhausted. —Vanessa Lapointe,author Discipline without impairment
🧭 Make sure your kids know how to explore their world in a tech-free way. Even if your kids have smartphones, make sure they know what to do if a stranger approaches, how to get help for an injury, and other street wisdom. Help isn’t always available at the push of a button. —Leah Plunkett,author joint stock system
💡 Discuss family or classroom conflicts with your children. Develop a daily conversation topic, such as “What was the fun or difficult part of the day?” or “What rules do we need to help everyone feel loved and respected?” Then have a weekly discussion to keep things on track, Involve children in problem solving. —Thomas Licona,author How to raise kind children
📣 Instill words of positive affirmation into your children every day. For example, “I love you. I’m proud of you. It’s going to be a great day. It’s okay to make mistakes. Parents can leave notes in their kids’ lunchboxes. Or my parents asked me to leave notes for them at their kids’ desks. Write a sticky note with these messages to help your child feel strong and confident throughout the day. — Jarod Renford, first-grade teacher in Washington, D.C.
Digital story edited by Malaka Gharib. Visual editor is Beck Harlan. We’d love to hear from you. Please leave us a message at (202) 216-9823 or email LifeKit@npr.org.
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