Preparing for the First Day of School
As that time of the year approaches, when you start preparing your child for school, it is normal for stress to arise for both parents and children. Every child has their own needs and personality, so every child’s preparation and support looks different, especially in these uncertain times. The PEMC is here to share some tips to help your child gain a sense of steadiness and control over any uncertainties about the first day back to school.
Preparing Your Child for School
Preparing your child for school is not only getting lunches made, purchasing books and supplies, or laying out an outfit for their first day back to school, but it involves emotional support and reassurance as well. Start by creating a dialogue with your child if they can communicate. Ask them what their fears or concerns are, and then you will be able to provide them with information to make them feel safe.
In preparing for school and a return back into the classroom full-time, it is great to have a plan in place with your child’s teachers and/or other professionals. Routine is key in setting children up for success, and by providing support through a schedule, you are teaching them how to better take care of themselves and voice their needs. To cope with the many changes this year will bring, help your child focus on what is familiar, such as what friends they are looking forward to seeing, who their teacher will be, and more.
Communication is Key
Preparing for the first day of school requires not only planning but communicating as well. As you know, opening a dialogue with your child can help you to better understand them and their thought process, just as you can help them to better understand through language as well. Prepare your child about what they can expect when preparing for back to school, such as safety precautions and other new changes, like their teacher or classroom. Remember to stay positive!
By pointing out the positive aspects of preparing for school, you will create positive anticipation about the first day of class. Remind your child that they will see old friends and make new ones. Remind them of positive past experiences they may have had with friends or at school. You can talk about how they will find a new friend to take the bus or walk to school with. By posing these questions, you can help get your child excited and curious about their first day back to school by posing these questions.
Create Comfort
To further support your child, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher to ask for photos or a video of the classroom and its setup. If it is a new school, try to take a tour before your child’s first day, or show them what their school looks like. While distancing rules may be in place, it will be less jarring to familiarize your child with their new environment before physically entering the space.
Schools and administration are typically available to answer any questions or concerns you may have before the school year even begins, and that is often the best time to have these conversations. Changes in school routines and activities are bound to affect children, but by creating a dialogue, you can make space to help them better understand the changes in their social and school life.
In addition to this, reflect on what was beneficial for your child during the lockdown. Did music or certain activities help your child stay grounded or improve their focus? Teachers love to hear about these positive impacts and encourage parents to share tips for how much and what kind of support their child and family needs. Perhaps teachers can even implement some of these familiar things in the classroom to comfort your child further as they face such a dynamic shift in their everyday life.
Maintain a Routine
During the lockdown, it was easy for all of us to fall out of our regular routines. Bedtime may have been later, and sleeping in may have become the norm. Meal schedules may be off as well. In the days leading up to the first day back to school, try to reset your child’s routine, including a schedule for sleeping, eating, bathing, and more. By getting back into a set schedule, you will positively influence their whole day and energy levels, better preparing for the first day of school.
Develop a Sleep Routine
Some ways to help your child calm down before bedtime include a warm bath or shower, reading with them, and tucking them in. Be sure to turn off all electronic devices long before bedtime, and try to keep the home as quiet as possible. Insufficient sleep is related to lower academic and social achievement at school. Getting enough sleep, around 8-12 hours per night depending on their age, is critical for success.
Give Your Child Choices
By giving your child choices, you are not only getting them involved in preparing for the first day of school, but you are also helping to foster independence. Allow your child to sort out their back-to-school outfits or uniform, help with shopping for school supplies, pick out their lunchbox or pencil case, and more! Children want and need to feel like they have self-autonomy. This will additionally help them to feel more in control, especially with so many big changes.
Involve Your Child in Meal Preparation
To further foster their independence and help to reduce stress around preparing for back to school, ask your child what healthy snacks and foods they would like to try and pack in their lunchbox. You can additionally have them get involved with the meal preparation, such as washing fruits and vegetables, slicing them, and activities such as spreading something on sandwich bread. Your child will love it!
In addition to this, it is proven that a nutritious breakfast is the best way to get your child energized in the morning. Avoid foods and beverages loaded with sugar so your child will not crash mid-morning, but rather, try protein and whole grains. In addition, allow choices, such as asking your child to pick the fruit on their whole-grain oatmeal or cereal. Show them that making healthy choices can feel good and be fun!
Talk About Preparing for School
To help acclimate your child to their first day back to school and school routine, talk about what your child will do at school. Who will be doing the drop-off? Who will be doing the pick-up? What clubs or activities are on what day? What day is there a playdate scheduled? This will help you and your child stay organized and give them something to look forward to, which can help distract from the stress of so many big changes.
Travel to and from School
Be sure to review travel to and from school with your child, such as who will be conducting pick-up or drop-off, their mode of transportation, and a schedule of when you need to leave the house in the morning. Whether you and/or your child will be traveling by bus, car, bicycle, or on foot, it is necessary to review safety expectations, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, following pedestrian signals, wearing a helmet, walking in a sidewalk, and more.
Encourage Good Habits
It is crucial to create a quiet environment without distractions from a young age, as it is conducive to your child’s productivity in work and focus—set limits on electronic devices and watching television or playing on the computer. Also, be available to help your child with their homework, but refrain from completing it for them. Preparing for school comes with many big changes, and as a parent, you may want to jump in and help, but remember that encouraging good habits is key.
A Note from the PEMC
The Pediatric Endocrine and Metabolic Center of Florida knows that preparing your child for school may feel like a tedious task, but by following our tips outlined above, you can set you, your child, and your family up for success in the coming school year. We encourage you to give us a call or visit our website today to learn more about our state-of-the-art facility, which specializes in treating children with endocrine and metabolic conditions through all stages of development from birth to adolescence. We look forward to hearing from you!