Preparing for Back to School
As we approach the beginning of the school year (and inevitably some significant transitions), let’s look at some ways to manage potential stressors.
Summer can feel like a busy time with trying to cram all the activities and vacations in before fall hits. At times the pace can feel hectic, and schedules can feel more fluid.
As we approach the upcoming school year, we are faced with reintroducing more concrete schedules and fine tuning our routines.
Here are some tips to make the back-to-school transitions smoother:
Sleep. If kids have gotten out of a regular sleep schedule because of summer activities; it can be helpful to start to address a sleep routine 2 weeks before the start of school. Experts recommend to start with 15-minute increments with gradually adjusting bedtime and wake up time. For more information check out this article from Sleep Foundation https://www.sleepfoundation.org/school-and-sleep/back-to-school-sleep-tips
Activities. Back to school means fall sports and activities. While exciting, it can also feel like there is constant rushing, driving and getting to all the different after-school events. A recent NY Times article hichlight how easy it is to overschedule: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/02/briefing/why-we-cant-stop-rushing.html.
Think of activities like a buffet: everything looks appealing, but too much can leave you overloaded. Sometimes the healthiest choice is to slow down, create space for downtime, and even let kids be bored. The NY Times also had an article in 2023 titled Let Kids Get Bored:
Transition times You may have noticed that kids arrive home from school tired, hungry and irritable. Many kids hold together their emotions and energy throughout the school day. By the time that they get home to their safe space and safe people, they may need to release emotions and energy. Sometimes kids may even get explosive.
I often talk about how the body is like a volcano; as pressure builds in the volcano, the greater the likelihood of an eruption. Creating opportunities for decompression can help. If kids can get their steam out in increments, then they may not have as much of an eruption once they get home. Some children prefer talking, others need quiet, physical activity, or alone time. Creating options for kids to transition from school to home can help get the steam out of their volcano and set them up for after school success.
Downtime Ideas What to do if your kids have a hard time finding a down time activity or are easily bored? Work with your kids to create a “downtime basket”. Fill it with things they can go to when they are having some quieter time. These can be books, puzzles, easy crafts, favorite objects, etc. This way they can grab things more easily and can start to identify non-screen activities.
Stress. School can be academically and/or socially hard for kids. And school can be more challenging than many of us remember from our younger days! Helping kids to identify and share their feelings can help them better understand where their emotions come from. If they can identify that, then we can help them to poke holes in the big worries they are sitting with (Identify, Investigate and Interrupt).
As the school year begins, remember that both kids and their families are adjusting. A little preparation, flexibility, and intentional downtime can go a long way in easing the transition. Not every day will run smoothly—and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection, but helping kids feel supported, balanced, and ready to thrive in the year ahead.
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