Helping Children Prepare for School

Back to school…for some it brings up feelings of new beginnings, crisp new binders and notebooks, brand new supplies, shiny school shoes and white sneakers, the opportunity for a new start. And for others…feelings of dread and anxiety.

How do we ease the back-to-school season for ourselves and our children?

Here are some tips and tricks I use to help get off to a successful start:

1. Start early on supplies and backpacks– I find that buying school supplies early, and letting the children see that they are ready for school, helps children (and me!)  feel calmer and prepared. I try to start buying backpacks as early as I can (sometimes the kids can’t think about it until August) and work on the supply lists as soon as they are available. Ordering supplies online helps make the tediousness of finding specific supplies easier.  I use a label maker and a thin sharpie to label all supplies (kids can help/do it themselves if you think it’s age appropriate) and completely pack their backpacks in advance.
2. Buy school uniforms, shoes, and clothes in advance. This avoids the back-to-school rush, overwhelmingly busy stores and frenzy. Check uniform lists and make sure you have all items including sweatshirts and socks! The kids feel calmer knowing that they have what they need in advance and can enjoy savoring the last licks of summer.
3. Meet the teacher- For students who have had poor previous experiences, or have a hard time with transitions, reach out to the administration/teacher in advance to see if you can arrange a time for the child to meet his/her teacher and see the classroom before school starts. Usually, teachers set up their room the week before school and can meet students there. For some children, this has made a world of a difference.
4. Prepare Fuel – Our children need nourishing food for their brains to work properly and live up to the demands of school. Adjusting to the back to school routine also takes extra energy. Buying snacks, (think whole grains, no added sugar fruit snacks, cheese sticks, yogurt, trail mix, etc.) that the children like and will want to eat goes a long way in helping them stay focused and feel prepared (even look forward!) to school. I like to prepare healthy muffins for my kids and buy protein bars (check ingredients, some are filled with sugars and fillers) that will help tide them over in case they need a quick energy boost.  If you have time to prepare or buy their favorite snack, that will help make them smile on their first days.
5. Pray– No matter how hard we try, we cannot control the school experience for our children. Pray for the right group of friends, the right teacher, and our child being in a space to learn.

That being said, I usually cry after I drop them off that first day. It’s both the exhaustion of preparing and finally getting there, and the prayers for that new beginning. It’s not easy to send a part of yourself out to a whole new experience!

Best wishes for an easy and back to school season!