Embracing the Back-to-School Transition

Summer is coming to a close, and the new school year is soon approaching! I vividly recall the mixed emotions I had as a child. Realizing summer was almost over brought a sense of anxiety – new teachers, new classmates, new homework. Alongside the anxiety, there was also an overall feeling of loss.
Summertime meant having flexible schedules, quality family time, and fun outings or activities with my siblings. Although saying goodbye to a carefree time was bittersweet, I remember quickly embracing the school routine.

Discovering that this new experience brought its own set of great adventures and joyful moments. Amidst our busy schedules, I still had time to connect with my family at the end of a school day and on weekends.

As hard as it is to leave behind the relaxed pace of summer, the start of the school year represents new opportunities and experiences, equally as meaningful and memorable as summer vacations.
The new school year represents the opportunity to start a new and fresh chapter! 

Dear Yesenia, My kids are loving their summer break, I have a five-, seven- and nine-year-old. We’ve been spending a lot of time together and my partner and I have been relaxed about bedtime, chores and screen time. It has been nice spending that time together, since it is hard to make time when our schedules are so hectic during the school year. It’s been great, but I’m worried that getting them back into the school routine will be a rough transition! What can I do to help ease them more smoothly back into the school schedule? 

Michael

Dear Michael, 
It is great you’re thinking ahead for the transition! That will make a big difference. Transitioning from a relaxed summer schedule to a structured school routine is difficult for many children and families.
Taking a few steps now can make it easier for everyone when school starts again. Here are a few tips to try:  

Talk about school. Start having casual conversations about the new school year. Ask your kids what they’re looking forward to, which friends they’ll be happy to see, and what they’re excited to learn. If your kids express fear or worries, encourage them to talk about why they feel that way.

Listen, and reassure them that a lot of kids feel nervous or anxious about starting school. Let them know that sometimes the feeling goes away when school starts, and other times, kids need support to learn ways to handle their feelings. Let them know you’re available to talk and offer support any time.   

Re-establish your family rules. Talk with your children and acknowledge that summertime was a fun “break” from the family rules, and now it’s time to get back into your usual routines.

Take small, steady steps to re-establish the rules. This helps prevent power struggles and gives your kids plenty of time to adjust before school starts.

For example, gradually reduce the amount of screen time they get each day so that by the time school starts, following the family rule about screen time limits doesn’t feel like a sudden or drastic change.
Practice your morning and evening routines. Talk with your kids about the steps to get ready for school – get up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, etc. If they’ve been sleeping in during the summer, have them get up a little earlier each morning and go through their routine, beginning at least a week before school starts.

Give descriptive praise when they follow the steps of their routines independently– “Nice job getting yourself up and dressed this morning!” Do the same with bedtime routines.

Prepare your children by talking with them about their weeknight bedtime and the steps of their evening routine – brush teeth, pajamas, read, hugs/cuddles, etc.

If they’ve been staying up late during the summer, have them start their evening routine a little earlier each night, beginning at least a week before school starts.   

Continue spending quality time together. Transitioning back to the structured school routine might be hard no matter how much you’ve planned ahead or prepared your kids. Spending quality time together makes children feel safe, secure, and loved, which can help make difficult transitions and big emotions a little easier for them (and you) to manage. 

Final Thoughts: Even children who love school can have a hard time transitioning from summertime to schooltime.

Taking small steps now to prepare children for the transition will help them enjoy what’s left of the summer and be ready to start the new school year with a positive attitude and eagerness to learn.

Yesenia Gomez-Carrillo is the mother of a 2-year-old daughter and the Triple P Program Manager for First 5 Santa Cruz County. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit triplep.first5scc.org, facebook.com/triplepscc, or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or [email protected].