With August around the corner, it won’t be long before summer camp will be over and it will be time to send your children back to school. This can be an exciting but also stressful time for both you as a parent and for your children. Here are some tips on how to make the process as painless as possible.
Start a Routine
It’s easy to get relaxed over the summer about bedtimes and screen time, but with school starting up, it’s important to develop a solid routine. Make a habit to enforce solid bedtimes again so that it won’t be such an issue once school resumes. Additionally, with school comes homework, so make sure you have a plan in place for that. Establish ground rules and make them clear, such as where homework will be done and what they’re allowed and not allowed to do prior. Don’t forget our tips on how to reduce screen time, too.
Keep the momentum
Did your child learn a cool new sport at camp? Keep that passion alive and encourage them to join a local team or just practice it on their own. If you have a hard time keeping your child active, find an after-school program that encourages outdoor activity. If they made friends at camp, encourage them to keep those connections up. Just because they may be attending different schools when the new year starts doesn’t mean that they can’t keep in touch.
Manage anxiety
Both kids and parents can get nervous about the start of school. To help ease the anxiety, take a trip to school before it starts to get a better idea of the layout, especially if its your child’s first year there. Make sure to stock up on school supplies before the rush. If you have the time, take a day-trip somewhere that can be a treat for both you and your children. You don’t necessarily have to go far but it’ll give you both an opportunity to relax. PBS offers even more insight on how to manage the transition.