The prospect of a new school year starting can generate feelings of melancholy, dread, or indifference for kids unwilling to say goodbye to the carefree days of summer. If your child isn’t exactly eager to get back to hitting the books, try these suggestions. They may inspire your summer baby to jump into school mode with glee.
Address anxiety of the unknown
If your child is apprehensive about the new school year because they will be in a new school, moving to a different building, or leaving best friends behind, encourage them to share their feelings. Letting them know it’s okay to be nervous and their feelings are valid can help them feel better about a new start. Then, try to make some unknowns, known. Tour the new building. Look for familiar names on the class list. Meet the teacher. Once some of their anxiety starts to dissipate, excitement will have room to bloom. “Help them become more acclimated to new routines and unfamiliar surroundings by talking through what they might expect to see. Allow them to ask questions and answer them honestly,” encourages Katherine Lee, writer for VeryWellFamily.com.
Schedule something special
If your kid is reluctant to return to school, you might find scheduling a special event or creating a first-day-of-school activity will offer them something fun to focus on. “Start new traditions like letting the kids pick dinner the night before school starts or plan the meal for the first day of school. Make a craft or gift for their teacher or decorate their door so they are surprised when they wake up,” recommends Amanda Mushro, writer for TLC.com.
Spotlight social connections
Summers are busy; if your child hasn’t had any time to hang out with their classmates, now is the time to get them together. You can call it an end-of-summer celebration, a back-to-school party, or keep it simple with an afternoon playdate. No matter the name, the goal is the same — fun with friends! And, it can also help if your child is nervous about the social aspect of school. “Connecting your child with a few friends, whether in-person or even via FaceTime, Zoom or Skype before you go back to school can help with those anxieties,” explains SylvanLearning.com.
Stock up on fun supplies
Returning to the classroom means back-to-school shopping. This can be a source of fun and excitement, especially if you let your child lead the way. Of course, you have to get the necessities like paper, glue sticks, and pencils, which can be boring; but you can also allow your child to splurge on special pens, colorful folders or binders, or a brand-new backpack or lunch bag. “Getting your child involved in the process of purchasing school supplies can be a lot of fun. Encourage him or her to create the list of things that he or she needs. Check your school’s website for the list. Many stores have the supply list right there in the store filed under your school’s name and grade,” notes SylvanLearning.com.
Schedule something special
If your kid is reluctant to return to school, you might find scheduling a special event or creating a first-day-of-school activity will offer them something fun to focus on. “Start new traditions like letting the kids pick dinner the night before school starts or plan the meal for the first day of school. Make a craft or gift for their teacher or decorate their door so they are surprised when they wake up,” recommends Amanda Mushro, writer for TLC.com.
Make going back to school an exciting prospect with these suggestions, so you and your child have a great start to the new school year.