Tips for easing the back-to-school transition

Danielle Hutchinson
·2 min read

Early wake up times, gathering supplies, and meeting new people are just three of the many stressors that children face each fall when gearing up for the upcoming school year. Children have navigated their fair share of change throughout the last few years of the pandemic, and for some, this made home a comfortable and safe place to be.

Here are some tips to help ease overwhelming feelings in children this upcoming transition:

  • Encouraging your child to look at the upcoming transition in a positive light can go a long way, encourage “looking on the bright side” thinking

  • Educating them on the recreational opportunities around them for an opportunity to make positive connections with others has been statistically shown to increase school attendance, grades, and participation. Children strive when they feel purposeful

  • Providing education on being aware of how peers around them may treat others and speaking up to an adult if they are uncomfortable with something they might witness. Bullying is truly a behavior that should not be overlooked or tolerated.

  • Building up our children’s self-esteem and reminding them of their strengths is important because it feels good to be empowered!

  • Start shifting early bedtimes a week in advance to make that first morning wake up easier on the whole family. Routines and rituals are key when anticipating change

  • Lighten the morning chaos by doing tasks ahead of time such as packing lunches and setting aside clothing.

  • Most importantly, even if it is five minutes, set aside a time each afternoon or evening to check in individually with your child. “How was your day, what did you learn, is there anything that you did or did not like at school?” Having a predictable time where your child can feel like they can share thoughts, feeling and experiences will strengthen the connections that we have with our children and assist them in processing the ongoing change around them.

More: When does school start? Check out the list of Eastern CT schools

“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” - Nikos Kazantzakis

Danielle Hutchinson, LPCA, is an early childhood clinician at UCFS Healthcare’s Plainfield Office

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: UCFS Healthcare: Ease the transition to back-to-school