The six weeks of summer holidays have promised us an extra hour in bed each morning, barbeques whenever the sun is shining and plenty of much cherished family time. Yet back-to-school is just around the corner and we all know that the relaxing holidays we’ve been enjoying are soon to be replaced with back-to-school chaos.
No matter what year your child is going in to, there are lots of reasons for pupils to feel anxious. There’s the pressure to achieve academically and be popular, the burden of an increasing workload, the anxiety over getting into the choir or a beloved sports team and the plain separation from Mum that keeps school from being cool.
The anticipation of carefree summer days turning into a schedule-driven school week can be difficult. So here at Care.com we’ve put together some essential tips for making the back-to-school transition a little easier so you can all enjoy the last days of summer:
1. Spot the Signs of Anxiety
Some children are simply more apprehensive than others. No matter their age, children may have nightmares, have trouble keeping a sleeping and eating pattern or develop new worries and fears. In addition, older children might talk about a friend who is nervous about school (when really it’s them!); become introverted, snappy or depressed or frequently ask questions about school. Most anxiety is normal and mixed with excitement, but a drastic change should be brought to your doctor’s attention.
2. Keep it Calm
Children sense when parents are nervous and this can exacerbate a child’s anxiety, or even create a new one. Parents are often more anxious about organising the new school routine but don’t make it your child’s problem. If your son or daughter is relaxed about heading back to school, take a leaf from their book!
3. Reroute the Routine
Don’t cut summer short but do prep kids to get their bodies ready for a school schedule. That means you need to phase in earlier bedtimes and wake up times (why not use this time to gently squeeze in more outdoor activities while the weather is nice).
4. Respect their Feelings
If your child is feeling anxious, they aren’t necessarily looking for you to fix everything – instead, they just want the opportunity to vent and for you to listen. You can remind them that it’s natural to feel anxious and that plenty of their friends will be feeling nervous too.
5. Be Excited
Once you’ve talked about the back-to-school angst, ask your son or daughter what they’re excited about: a new pencil case, being in a class with their best friend or having their favourite teacher?
6. Reminisce
Perhaps they did a great job in the school’s play or saved a cracking goal in the football tournament? Remind them of the great things that happened before the summer started. If your son or daughter had troubles, talk about what you can both do to make school a better experience this time around. Remember that if you have confidence in their ability to achieve, it will rub off on them too!
7. Don’t Become Pushy
Children want to please their parents but getting top marks in every test and winning the annual poetry competition isn’t realistic. It doesn’t make your child any less wonderful if they aren’t high achievers! Encourage them to do the best they can instead of expecting perfect reports and marks each term. Try and build-up their self-esteem by emphasising their strengths. It might not even be in the classroom. Maybe she doesn’t excel in art but she’s a great friend who always looks out for classmates in the playground.
8. Check With Your Carer
As summer winds down ask your child’s nanny or babysitter if she has noticed any signs of apprehension about the upcoming school year. After all, she knows your children’s personality well. Sometimes a child might feel more comfortable confiding in a caregiver than a parent so she could have insight about any worries they may have.
9. Stave Off Social Drama
Your child is never too old for play dates, they just might not like to use that term! Younger kids can fret over entering a class where they don’t recognise any faces while older children may worry about making new friends. Organise play time for new friends to be made and socialise with the parents too. Talk about how lovely it is to meet new people, which is a great example for your children to follow.
10. Meet & Greet
Change can be scary. When possible, help to familiarise your child with a new school and teachers. Have a practice run of biking or walking to the school together, or drive the bus route; have a look around their new classroom; point out the bathroom, dinner hall and playgrounds.
11. Shop Wisely
In theory, the back to school season is fun (though maybe only for you), but you don’t want to push summer out the door with long slogs shopping for supplies and new school shoes. Limit anxiety by only doing light-shopping – and then keeping all the new purchases out of sight until the summer really is over.
12. Stay Sharp
Many older children get homework or projects to be completed over summer so there’s some studying to keep their minds in check. But if you think your child will lose a lot of momentum without summer work organise a few practice sessions. Help younger kids with academic art projects that are an engaging way to learn but also have fun. Think about projects that involve matching, simple maths problems, shapes, letters or vocabulary that don’t feel like a lesson.