Dear Teachers Q & A

How to Prepare for Your Children to Have a Great Return to School

Parents: Summer has wound down, and now it’s back-to-school time. Preparing for the first days of the new year will yield benefits for both you and your children.

 Tips to Reduce Anxiety

          It’s perfectly normal for both children and parents to experience some anxiety before the start of a new or first school year. After all, what the new year will be like is unknown unless you have a crystal ball. Don’t borrow trouble by anticipating what could go wrong. And be sure not to voice your concerns to your children, which could add to any anxiety they may have. Instead, discuss any worries you may have with other adults. And certainly talk to your children about what excites them and what worries them about the new year while expressing empathy and encouragement.

            All children are likely to have some anxiety about facing new teachers and classmates. The best antidote to this is preparation, which will make the first days of school much easier. Here are some things you need do:

1. Make sure your children are familiar with the environment of any new school, whether they are entering preschool, elementary, middle or high school. Quite often it is possible for children to visit schools and see where their classrooms, library, gym or lockers will be. This is most important for young children. However, just a drive by the school or walk around the outside of the building can be reassuring for older children.
2. Perhaps the easiest way to reduce any anxiety your children may have about returning or entering school is to help them reconnect with friends. Having a buddy to talk over the upcoming year and even possibly go to school together the first day can be extremely helpful.
3. Make sure plans are in place for how your children will get to school and where they will be after school—and that your children know what these plans are. Also, have contingency plans if after-school plans cannot be followed on a given day.

Checklist of Other Things to Do

1. Review how the children will handle homework–times, places and rules. (A contract can help.)
2. Establish the number of activities your children will pursue. Have a realistic cap on the number.
3. Establish a routine that gets the children out the door promptly and without too many reminders.
4. Discuss with the school nurse or administration any medical conditions or allergies that they should know about.
5. Read the school handbook if you have been given one, so you are aware of attendance, dress and behavior policies.
6. Think long and hard about the need to establish any rules about the time spent on electronic devices.
7. Discuss with the children whether they will be buying or taking lunch.
8. The older your children are, the more they should be involved in establishing the routines that work for them.

Parents should send questions and comments to DearTeacher@DearTeacher.com, and visit the DearTeacher.com website to learn more about helping their children succeed in school.

            ©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2023

As always, please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns.