4 Essential Back-to-School Parenting Tips

I know, it seems like summer just started, and here I am about to talk about how to help your family prepare effectively for the return to school. Life as a parent is just so relentless and definitely stressful. However, I would say that with some preparation and planning, the return to school can be at least slightly more smooth.

For many kids, they have a lot of mixed feelings about coming back to school. They are nervous, excited, happy, sad, scared, worried, and even may feel unprepared for this next phase. Perhaps it is a big transition that they are facing such as the move to kindergarten, middle school, high school, or college. Regardless, it can be tough as a parent to manage our feelings in the face of their at times overwhelming emotional experience in this process.

Regardless of your child’s age, I wanted to share some ideas and strategies that might help you through this season of transition.

1. Plan ahead. I know, I know. It is just not fair to be a parent and have to always think a thousand steps ahead. I get it, truly I do, as I am equally tired of trying to predict things and plan for so much that is out of our control. However, I recommend planning for things you can control, such as routines (drop off/pick up, wake up, school day packing). We can make a plan at least a week ahead of time for who will do what on school mornings. It will help everyone if it is known who will do what. Clear and consistent expectations are always helpful in a family!

2. Adjust wake and bedtimes accordingly. Perhaps your family has all been on vacation for most of the summer. Or maybe you just had a vacation immediately before school, starting with lazy mornings and late nights. Regardless, try adjusting to new sleep and wake times about a week prior to school beginning to help everyone be on their best behavior. While I know this can be tricky, when our kids sleep (regardless of age), it helps them be on their best behavior for learning and, well, everything. I can’t recommend working on this ahead of time enough!

3. Do a trial run. This step is particularly important if your child is in a big transition year. Try to show them their new school. Some schools offer open houses; if yours does, please take advantage of it! If not, a quick drive-by and walk around campus can help orient a nervous child/teen to their new home for the next year.

4. Complete summer homework. ​ I know, I know, yet again, I am sharing an unpopular opinion here. But it is worth sharing! Often, students struggle with feeling nervous about academic material that their teacher will share at the beginning of the year. Will I be behind everyone else? Will they think I am stupid? What if I am called on, and I don’t know the answer? These are all questions I have heard from students at the beginning of the year. So, if your school has shared summer homework or reading, please have your child/teen complete it. Even if they resist it, it will help them feel more prepared for the year, which can help confidence for kids who struggle or those who are more anxious.

Even with these tips, the back-to-school phase can certainly be tricky to navigate as a parent. Try to have realistic expectations for your child and your family as a whole. The goal is to get through it and hopefully get to a place where you and your child feel comfortable with the new rhythm of life!