This year’s transition back to school feels harder than ever before.  There is a lot more uncertainty, anxiety, and fear mixed with excitement and anticipation.  These emotions can be challenging for kids who switch quickly between being excited and scared all in the same moments. 

Here are a few strategies to help your child if they are experiencing these emotions:

1. Spend time talking with them about their feelings

Children need to know that the emotions they are experiencing are normal and it is okay to feel all the emotions at the same time.  Listening to them and acknowledging them are very important steps so that your child feels that they are seen and heard. 

2. Talk about what it is like to be back in school

Whether this is your child’s first time at school or they are returning to school after a long summer break, talk about what school is like. Talk about what may be like in the classroom, the rules of the school, the bells and what they mean, how they ask to go to the washroom, what they need to do if they have a question and all the nuances of school. 

3. Start to get back into the routine

One of the hardest things for children is getting back into the sleep schedule for school. It is a good idea to start the schedule before school starts and make small incremental changes, a half-hour on each end. Earlier to bed by a half an hour and walk up a half-hour early.  This will make mornings easier when the school days start. 

4. Changing your eating habits

Over the summer, mealtimes can change depending on the activity and schedule.  A child’s tummy and hunger can impact their mood and so getting their body on schedule with when they can eat at their school are helpful to ease the transition.  If they have two meal breaks, start dividing the day into the two mid-day meal breaks or if they only have one then try to decrease the snacks between meals so that they can wait till lunch.  Then plan some high-protein snacks for after school when they get home. 

5. Keep things low key when school starts. 

Children are often excited about school but there are a lot of emotions in the first couple of days and lots of information that can be overwhelming for a child.  Make sure to keep the evenings low-key. Give your child time to be alone, rest, and don’t overwhelm them with questions.  Just be present with them so that they can work through all the changes that are happening for them. After the first few days, they will start to get into the groove and know what is expected of them.