Navigating Going Back To School Before Summer Ends
It’s official, back to school season is here. For parents and children, the end of summer can often feel stressful, as leisurely days spent in the sun are traded in for early mornings and homework. Luckily, there are ways parents can prepare their children for the back to school season to make the transition feel less abrupt, and to actually get them excited about returning to the classroom.
Work With Children To Develop An Effective Daily Routine
Most parents and children look forward to summer for a well-deserved break from the chaos of early morning drop offs, a full day of academics, and after school activities. For a lot of children, their summers are spent with a loosely structured schedule that may include later wake up times, playing outside with friends, travelling with family, and ultimately, fewer responsibilities. The structured routine that comes with going back to school can make the transition from summer to school feel jarring for both children and parents.
Parents can help minimize the stress of the back to school season by working with their children a few weeks before summer ends to create an effective morning and nighttime routine for the upcoming school year. Determine what can get done at night versus in the morning to help save time and stress for the entire family. For example, if a child spends a majority of their morning deciding what to wear, having them pick out their clothes the night before may be a more effective use of their time.
Give children the opportunity to have a say in their routines to help instill a sense of independence and responsibility. Ask each child what they feel is important to do before bed, and after waking up. Work with children to incorporate these needs into their routines. Showing children they are trusted and respected will also help ease the transition into a new school year, as they will feel more in control of making responsible decisions regarding their day.
Implement The Routine Before The First Day
Waiting until the last day of summer to set a bedtime and an early morning alarm is going to make the first day of school even more stressful than it already is. To avoid this, parents and children should practice going to bed and waking up at the same time in the 2-3 weeks leading up to the first day of school. If a child’s summer bedtime is much later than their school-year bedtime, and they have trouble falling asleep, have them go to bed 10 minutes earlier each day for a few weeks until they are accustomed to their school-year routine.
Parents can have children create a list of things they need to do to get ready in the morning and at night before school. Have them complete these tasks in real time, as they would on a school night and morning. Set a timer to determine how long it takes them to complete each task, to get a sense for a typical school morning and night.
Set Up A Designated Homework And Study Area
Parents and children can spend time together creating a designated space for homework and studying before school is in session. Not only is this a good bonding experience, it also gives children the opportunity to learn how to tailor their workspace to accompany their learning and working style. This space should be comfortable, free of distractions, and age appropriate for their level of academics. Having a dedicated work space provides children with a sense of self-sufficiency and responsibility and can help make homework feel rewarding and even exciting.
Meet With Teachers To Understand Expectations
When both children and parents have a clear definition of what to expect from teachers for the upcoming school year, it will help children feel supported in navigating more academic responsibilities. Parents and children can take advantage of open house before the school year starts to meet with their teacher(s) and understand their expectations for students in their classroom. Both parents and children can ask teachers what material will be covered during the school year, what they can look forward to, classroom rules that can be reinforced at home, and the best way for parents to communicate with teachers.
Provide Learning Opportunities Outside Of The Classroom
Parents can have children participate in engaging activities throughout the summer to keep their minds stimulated. Use this time to give children different types of activities within different areas to explore ideas they might not have had much exposure to. This gives children the opportunity to learn freely to truly explore their own interests and view education as something that can be fun!
The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the fun has to end too. Planning weekend activities to a local nature reserve or campground can help engage learning in an environment outside of the classroom, while also giving children something to look forward to after school starts.
Interested in broadening your child’s skills next summer? Explore the exciting activities Camp Kupugani has to offer!
Sources: Care, Scholastic