When kids head back to class, it can be exciting and stressful for children and their parents. To help families make a smooth transition to the new school year, Texas Children’s offers these tips for a stress-free return to school.
Get a grip
- Your relationship with your child and your behavior toward your children influences them, so you must remain calm even when stress is high. Build in extra time, put less-important projects on hold, stay rested and keep the lines of communication open with your children and spouse.
- Be reassuring. Listen to your children’s worries and don’t minimize, dismiss or try to talk them out of these fears.
- Take care of yourself. Consider your own needs and wants as well as those of your children.
Get organized
- Create one location, folder or file to store your child’s documents, schedules, permission slips, directories and other important paperwork.
- Add the school schedule to your calendar, planner or refrigerator.
- Be prepared for your child’s days off from school. Arrange back-up childcare and network with other parents in case of emergencies. Make sure their contact information is handy.
Get stocked
- Shopping for supplies and clothes can be fun, but overdoing it is hard for children. Decide what’s necessary and buy one or two items each pay period.
- Buy in bulk and distribute supplies as needed.
Get set up
- At this time, chores are reassigned, allowances renegotiated and after-school activities scheduled.
- While change is good, be aware that too much too soon can make even the most cooperative child balk.
- Think about and choose special places and times – quiet corners or certain tables – where your children know they can concentrate on reading and homework.
- Talk with children about how to structure study times and expectations for performance. Create a plan to help them reach these goals.
Get acquainted
- Establish ways to communicate with teachers and other parents, while maintaining a professional attitude in your dealings with school and extracurricular contacts.
- Parents of similar-age children can be a terrific resource and sounding board.
- When parents and teachers have regular discussions about school and home events, children – especially younger ones – feel a more trusting connection with the school as a whole, and tend to try harder both socially and academically.
