A Parent's Guide to Reducing Back-to-School Anxiety
As the final days of summer and the first day of school approach, it’s common for kiddos to experience a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Transitioning from a more relaxed summer routine to a more structured school schedule can make room for lots of nerves and resistance that can be challenging for parents and kids.
Here are a few tips and tricks you can try now to help reduce back-to-school anxiety and ease this transition for your child.
Re-establish a School Routine: Gradually establish a school-year routine one to two weeks before your child’s first week of school. Begin to implement bedtimes, wake-up times, meal times, and play times that are consistent with their school day. This can give them time to adjust in the comfort of their home, instead of experiencing abrupt changes to their home and school routines all at once.
Prepare a Supplies List: Create a list of school supplies and outfits that your child will need. Allow them to go shopping with you for these items to get them involved and excited about the new school year. This can take the burden off of you to get everything prepared, while empowering them to be a part of this process.
Embrace a Positive Attitude: Approach the upcoming school year with enthusiasm and curiosity! Highlight the opportunities for seeing and making new friends and ask about what sports or activities that they would enjoy engaging in. Your attitude and efforts are likely to spread to your child, helping overshadow some of the parts of school they aren’t as excited about.
You can help your child lean into the new school year with excitement, while acknowledging their anxiety. Your support can play a big role in shaping the end of their summer. And, we want to support you through it!
If you’re looking for more strategies to help them manage anxiety and change at home, the HeyKiddo App was built for you. If you, or someone else you know, are interested in learning about HeyKiddo Huddle and how it can fit into their school routine, reach out to us and help spread the word!