Even though it’s looming all summer long, returning to school always seems to sneak up on you. A new school year can be full of emotions for both kids and parents. If this sounds familiar, the staff at EOCDC have some helpful tips to smooth the transition.
Talk to Your Child About What to Expect This Year
One of the scariest things for anyone is the fear of the unknown. Take time to talk to your child about what they might encounter socially and academically during the first few months of school. Make sure to reassure them that they can handle anything that comes their way.
Do a School Walk-Through
Take a special trip to the school the week before school starts to show your kids where their new classroom will be. You can follow the routes they’ll take from their classroom to the bathroom and even the playground to help them feel less nervous about getting lost.
Take Time to Celebrate
Pick something fun your family enjoys doing together and have a school-year kick-off party. Enjoy a special family meal, play your favorite game, or have a movie night. The celebration will help everyone say goodbye to summer and start the new school year with something fun.
Create a Make-Your-Own-Lunch Station
There never seems to be enough time in the morning before school, so a bit of prep work in advance can eliminate some frantic scurrying. Have your kids help! Fill bins with different snacks and foods so they can easily pick options from the bins to prepare their own lunch.
Create a Schedule
Schedules are a powerful tool for the whole family and can help show kids what to expect and look forward to during the school year. Creating a calendar with the day’s activities and chores can give your child a visual timetable of the days ahead.
Pick Out Clothes Ahead of Time
Have your child pick out their school outfits the night before, saving you time in the morning. Don’t forget to pick out shoes too! We all know that one has a funny way of disappearing.
Prep Breakfast Ahead of Time
Prepare your first day of school breakfast ahead of time. Doing so will save you time and give you a few extra minutes to have a sit-down breakfast together as a family, making that first day of school something special.
Remember, those first few hectic weeks will slow as life returns to normal. Hopefully, these tips and tricks will help ease some of your back-to-school stress in the meantime.
