Summer is finally over, and kids everywhere will soon be going back to school. But for countless students - as well as their parents - the back to school process can prove to be a turbulent one. It's not surprising, of course, given that an entire summer's "routine" of fun and relaxation is suddenly shifted to that of school, homework, and studying. This can understandably leave kids feeling anxious, overwhelmed or sad ? sometimes, even before school begins. Appropriately referred to as the "back-to-school-blues", a great many students experience these feelings of anxiousness and sadness before heading back to the classroom each year.
However, there are various ways for parents to help stop those back to school blues in their tracks. For starters, try to read regularly to your child over the summer ? or, if your child is old enough, encourage him or her to read on their own. Children often become disconnected with regard to reading and writing skills over the summer, which can make it harder for them to jump right back into it when school starts. For younger kids, there are also many interactive tools ? for example, VTech toys ? that make reading and learning more fun and interesting. As the school term approaches, you might also consider reading back to school-related stories with younger children.
Another way to get your child excited about going back to school is to set a new school year tradition. Whether you host a "last day of summer" BBQ, or plan a family theme and game night, you're kids are sure to feel more excited about the end-of-summer change if they have an exciting tradition to look forward to.
One of the biggest sources of stress for kids going back to school is that they're often expected to jump right back into "school mode". However, after an entire summer of sleeping in, kids will need more than day's notice to get back on track. Help them re-set their body clocks by setting an alarm (for the same time they'd have to wake up for school), and getting them dressed for breakfast. Of course, this also means having them go to bed at the same time they would during the school year. Doing this about a week before school begins should help them get a smooth start on their actual first day of school.
Next, take the time to talk to your child about what their new routine will be like ? and don't forget to include all the fun activities they can look forward to. This will help them know what to expect, and help them get excited for school. If your children are old enough to walk to school, go on a "test run" of their walking route a few days ahead of time, to ensure they're comfortable with the walk.
If you sense your child is still feeling anxious about starting school, make time to talk about it ? and really listen. Try to avoid saying things like "you'll be fine", or "don't worry.", iInstead, ask specific questions about why he or she is worried, and try to find a solution by talking about it in detail.
Last but not least, be as positive as you can be while your child prepares to go back to school. Seeing parents calm, happy, and positive during an exciting time such as this will ultimately help kids go into the experience with a positive attitude too.
Whether you take steps to get your child into "school mode" ahead of time, or encourage your child's reading and writing skills over the summer with vetch toys, ample preparation will help your child steer clear of the back to school blues.
