This post is sponsored by The Blake School
The start of a school year is an exciting time. Children anticipate making friends and experiencing new things. Parents often recall wonderful school memories of their own and look forward to giving their children similar experiences.
However, the transition back to school (or to school for the first time!) can be difficult for some families. It’s important to remember that while we have many years of positive school memories to draw upon, our children have only been around for a fraction of those years. So the thought of embarking on the independent and separated experience of school can be daunting.
Here are seven tips that can help ease the transition for a successful school year for children and parents:
START TALKING (BUT NOT TOO SOON)
A few weeks before school begins (but not too soon) bring up the idea that school will be starting shortly. Ask children how they feel about it and validate all feelings. Acknowledge their excitement along with any fears they bring up.
Don’t project too much of your own feelings about it: excitement or worry. Let the children form and express their own feelings.
BUILD CONFIDENCE
Project confidence in their independence. Statements like, “You put your shirt on all by yourself!” can help children experience the joy of doing things for themselves.
IMAGINE SCHOOL
Play “school” with children, allowing them to be the student as well as the teacher.
Read books and view videos about going to school and let the children talk about it.
Tell them about what the first day is going to be like and draw pictures of it with them.
VISIT SCHOOL
Visit the school with your child before it begins, if you can. Drive around it, go in it, and meet the teachers and other friendly personnel.
PRACTICE GOODBYES
Practice saying “goodbye” and perhaps come up with a unique routine for the separation moment. Some families use a hand-clapping routine or a special call-and-response interaction.
TALK ABOUT THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY
Make sure children understand the process of reuniting with you when school has ended for the day. An example of this could be “Here’s where I’ll be picking you up (in our car, on the bus, etc.).”
GET GOOD SLEEP AND BE WELL NOURISHED
Make sure you and your children are getting a good night’s sleep and hearty meals for the week preceding the start of school.
Jon Halpern is a school counselor at Blake’s Lower School. He has also been a classroom teacher in both public and independent schools and has served as an adjunct faculty member for Hamline University. Jon is also one of the co-founders of ChildSense, a company providing resources for parents and educators. He holds degrees in psychology and education from Macalester College and an M.A. in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas.
The Blake School is a pre-k through 12 independent school with two campus locations (Lower School and Middle School in Hopkins and Upper School in Minneapolis). In September, Blake will open an Early Learning Center (ELC), the first of its kind in the Twin Cities. Designed for learners in pre-kindergarten (ages 4 and older), kindergarten, and first grade, the ELC will offer a child-centered program in a green facility designed to spark curiosity, joy, and growth.
