Transitioning Back To School In September

Many American children have not stepped foot inside an actual classroom since March of last year, and as we all anticipate their return to school, we are faced with more than just the standard back to school transition. Along with children’s (and parents’) excitement for the start of the school year, we will also find increased uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. You can ease your children’s transitions by beginning to prepare now. Here are some ways to help:

• Contact your children’s school if you have concerns. Parents often wait until they find themselves in a crisis before involving the school – do not wait. Know that teachers and school personnel are available to you, want to help you, and most importantly, want to help your children.
• Begin to physically separate from your children. Each child is different, and each family’s experience over the last year and a half has been different. If your child spent the last school year attending school while sitting next to you all day, physical separation may begin with simply spending time in a different room from your child. If you are separating by leaving a young child with a family member or friend for a period of time, explain that you are leaving and will return (if your child does not understand the concept of time, you may say sometime like “You stay here with Grandma, and I’ll be back before Peppa Pig ends.”). For some families easing the transition, physical separation may mean a child’s spending a few hours or even days at the home of a friend or family member. Whatever your family’s circumstance, practicing physical separation before school starts will only help your children.
• Establish structure. Bedtimes tend to fall by the wayside during the summer. As school approaches, begin to follow a routine. Bedtime does not have to be at the same time every night, but it should follow a reasonable pattern, and your children will benefit from already being settled into their sleep routines before school starts. Similarly, begin a morning routine a few days before the first day of school. Have your children set an alarm clock (or you set it for young children), brush their teeth, eat breakfast, and see if they will make it to school on time. If not, adjust the time accordingly. The transition will only be harder if your children are tired and late!
• Validate. As always, listen to your children. Create opportunities for them to express any concerns they have about the return to school and validate those emotions.