The Wheels on the Bus Go Back to School!

For many people, fall brings great smells, fun activities, good memories, happy feelings, and hopefully, normal temperatures! For students (and let’s face it, teachers, and parents alike), it also brings a mixed bag of emotions when the joy but also the pressure of summer camps, vacations, and summer outings come to an end. Getting ready for the new school year can create a lot of stress for families, which is why it is important to prepare for school weeks in advance and create a routine that is right for you and your family.

Here are 6 ways to start the school year off right:

1.     Why Wait? Get into a good bedtime routine now.

During the summer, many children and teenagers engage in later than normal sports and activities, not to mention, late night screen-time and video gaming. Children are staying up later because they can sleep in longer. Many times, we hear parents say, “Next week we need to go to bed earlier.” Why wait until next week. If your child is staying up significantly past school-day bedtimes, start getting into sleep hygiene practices now! Work their bedtime back 30 minutes for a few days until you have reached the desired bedtime. For example, Sally’s regular bedtime during school is 8:00pm, but she’s been falling asleep at 9:30pm during the summer. Spend a few days with the bedtime at 9:00pm, then bump it back to 8:30pm, and then a good 5 – 7 days of bedtime routine at 8:00pm to prepare for school.

Not only will a good bedtime routine help with the transition back to school, so will adjusting the time children and teenagers wake up in the morning. At least 1 week before school starts, make sure your child is waking up on time for the bus/carpool/walk to school. Have your child get dressed, brush their teeth, and eat breakfast just as they would on a school day.

2.     Get organized.

Let’s admit it, it is hard to stay organized once the chaos of school begins. Start thinking about a landing spot for the shoes, the lunchbox, the backpacks, the homework, and important papers like permission slips. 

3.     Create the best study space.

Studies have shown that homework is best completed in a communal space, such as a kitchen table. This allows for multiple children to see their siblings working on their homework, as well as allows a parent to be present to answer questions or assist with problems. Make sure the space is well-lit, has room to complete homework, and is free from distractions (putting cellphones, electronics, and televisions on mute). Some teenagers may have desks in their room for homework; however, if you notice your teenager is not completing their work, this is not the right space for them to be.

4.     Get to know your child’s teacher.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your child’s teacher and introduce yourself. Ask how you can support your child’s learning in the home.

For parents of children with neurodivergence or other learning needs, become familiar with your student’s case manager, teachers, schedules, and if they have one, their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. Meet with school staff and communicate with teachers about your child’s needs and how the school and staff can best support your student.

5.     I need a nap! The after-school crash.

After school routines are equally as important as bedtime/morning routines. Children and teenagers work hard on managing their emotions all day, focusing on school tasks, engaging in social activities, and growing and developing their amazing minds. When the day is over, the last thing many children want to do is talk about their day. If your child is answering “How was school today?” with “Fine,” or “I don’t know,” keep in mind how much talking and listening they have been doing all day. Many times, children need time to relax, decompress, and have time to themselves after school. Jumping from activity to homework, to meals, to bedtime is stressful for you, now imagine how stressful it is for your little ones.

For those with teenagers, allowing your child an opportunity to nap after school does not make them lazy. It does not mean they will fail classes. Allowing your tween/teen to nap for 45-75 minutes allows them to be more refreshed to tackle homework, chores, sports, or clubs. However, allowing more than 75 minutes for napping can lead into late night snacking, screen time, and procrastinating homework. So, make sure that there are time expectations/limitations around napping.

6.     Changes in behaviors.

Heading back to school can cause a lot of changes in students, ranging from fear to excitement, anger to anticipation, and anywhere in between. Keep a lookout on your child’s behaviors and talk with school staff and your child about them. As your child specific, open-ended questions and listen to the answers. Close-ended questions (that result in a yes or no answer like “Did you have a good day?”) stop conversations before they begin. And at the same time, rapid-fire questions about what you want to know might scare your child if they are not ready to talk. Consider asking questions like: “What did you do in P.E. today? What did you work on in art class? What are you working on in math class?”

Here are some behaviors you may encounter:

Clingy behaviors and school refusal is often related to anxiety children experience and a way to avoid experiencing the discomfort of being away from home/caregivers, social stressors, and fears of failure. Encourage your student to attend school, even if they need a transitional object from home or a picture of the family pets in their locker/backpack. For younger students, having a parent write a special note in their lunchbox can mean the world.

Bed wetting is also not uncommon for our elementary school children. These children are working hard and learning a lot. Their brains are on over-load, especially the first 2 weeks back at school. That means that when they sleep, they sleep HARD! Make sure they are using the toilet before bed, but also not shaming or embarrassing them if they do have a nocturnal accident.

Screen time is a source of contention with many teenagers when school starts, and they tend to resist screentime suggestions/restrictions. If your child’s behaviors are changing and they are on their screens a lot, as a parent, one of the best things you can do is monitor their social media. But do not schedule a time to look through your teen’s phone, as that allows them time to delete any concerning interactions they may be engaging in, cyberbullying they are experiencing, or other behaviors that are important to monitor.

Monitoring your child’s food intake or food restrictions are also important at the beginning of school. Carb-loading is often due to stress, where restrictions are related to teasing, bullying and social comparisons. Setting out fruits, vegetables, healthy grains, proteins, and water for after school snacks will help with decreasing that after school crash and improve mental focus for homework.

7.     HAVE FUN!

School is where our children spend most of their awake time. It is a place for socializing, making friends, learning, exploring, and having fun. Encourage your children to make the best out of their school experience. Let them go to dances, football games, pep-rallies, and other school-sponsored activities. Talk with them about what activities they may enjoy trying this school year. Even if it’s one little thing that gives them a chance to interact with other peers and increase confidence and independence, it counts. And even if an extra-curricular is not in the budget, make it a goal to plan play dates and attend any free community events throughout the school year.

And there you have it. Some easy(ish) ways to start the school year off right. But as you know, even if we come into the school year as prepared as possible, anything can happen! We are here to help your child. Whether that’s completing an assessment for your child to get services in school or proving therapy services to process social difficulties or a change in behavior. We are also here to help YOU, the parent. This is your reminder that self-care isn't selfish. It's necessary. You can't pour from an empty cup, so don't forget to refill yours.