Back to School Guide (Part 1 of 2)

It’s hard to believe that the summer is coming to an end.  And (yay!), school is about to start again.  While I love the freedom of summer, going to the pool, and vacations, there is something reassuring about the regular schedule that the school year brings.  Even better, the kids are busy everyday and they can stop climbing the furniture (literally) in my house.

The other day we were shopping for back-to-school supplies and the happy looks on my children’s faces as they clutched new backpacks and lunchboxes was enough to warm any mommy’s heart.   I remember that I LOVED getting new school supplies.   Of course, I was pretty geeky.  One of my favorite new school supplies was my first compass – the shiny new math tool was the coolest thing I’d seen thus far (told you, I was a geek)!  But even if you didn’t love school, I’ll bet that you also enjoyed getting brand new notebooks, book covers, and pens/pencils.   (Remember the Trapper Keeper?)

While getting new supplies is fun, the actual transition from summer freedom to school lockdown may not be as enjoyable for your child.  Here are some helpful hints to make the change a little smoother:

Preschool (ages 2 to 4 yrs)
If this is your child’s first time in preschool, then you may have just as hard a time with this transition as your child will.  Don’t worry – most kids make the adjustment without difficulty.   Even if your child attended last year, the summer is a long time to be off.   A week seems like an eternity at this age.  It’s a good idea to prep your young child at least a few days before school starts up again.   

Talk it up:  As with any change (weaning off the bottle, sleeping in a big-girl bed, and so on), it may take your child a few days to fully adjust.  Talking about school ahead of time helps to set expectations.  “You are a big girl and soon you will be going to big girl school!  They will have all kinds of great games and lots of new friends!” 

Visit the school:  It helps if the classroom isn’t completely new to your child.  It’s like being taken to a foreign country and then dropped there without any further instructions as to what to do.  The transition will be easier if you read books about going to school, visit the classroom, meet the teacher, and perhaps see some kids in action having fun at the school.  Most preschools will allow an introductory visit for the child.

Make the drop off short and sweet:  Children can sense your emotional levels.  So, by prolonging the drop off, they can sense that something is not quite right.  Your own anxiety and concerns about the drop-off may be detected by your child and he will act accordingly.  The preschool teachers have done this many times, and they know how to make your child happy after you leave.  Just give a quick hug and kiss, reassure him that you’ll be back soon and that his teacher will help him if he needs help.  If your child is more anxious or shy by nature, it may help to give him a little token to give him some sense of security.  A small photo of you, a small piece of a favorite blanket or a similar comfort item can be kept in his pocket.  Drop him off quickly, and then call back in an hour to see how he’s doing so that you can relax.  Chances are he’s having fun with playing with all the fun things at school and meeting new friends.

Do you have a school-aged child or older?  Stay tuned for Back to School Guide (Part 2 of 2).