Integrating fun activities throughout the break that help keep your child’s mind sharp is the best way to avoid a painful transition back into school. In a previous blog, we discussed how to help students have less stress during the school year. In this article, we’re helping you help your kids avoid stress to begin the school year!
Five Tips For Preparing Students To Go Back To School After Summer
You may have already created a game plan over the years from trial and error. As you know your child best, you probably know how they act when it’s time to go back to school and what they struggle with.
In case you need help finding ways to help your child reintegrate back into the school year, we’ve compiled a list of things to consider to help them out:
1) Slowly Acclimate To A School Sleep Schedule
It’s amazing how important sleep is and how much the quality of sleep we get greatly affects us throughout the day. A sudden change in sleep routine can be alarming to the body and actually make one more tired, less able to concentrate, and more stressed and irritable.
It’s best to make a slow transition, especially if the sleep schedule has been staying up late and sleeping in all of break, and now your child has to get up at 6:30 am or 7 am.
2) Take A Family Field-Trip
While going on vacation, visit a historical site, a museum, a science center, or an aquarium where it will be a fun experience but also secretly engage their minds and prepare them for learning.
3) Set Goals For The Upcoming School Year
When setting goals, start with your child’s interest first when talking with them. If they are interested in choir, their goals for the semester or year could be making it into the advanced choir or succeeding at a festival/competition. If they are more interested in sports, they may want to hit a personal best record for distance or make the varsity team.
Whatever their interests and passions are, set goals within that. This will give them something to look forward to and will help them keep endurance through the school year as well as “keep their eye on the prize.”
Once they get motivated by setting goals and wanting to challenge themselves, they can then set goals for their academics.
4) Set Expectations Within Your Family
Expectations and commitments are super important to children in their school years, especially middle schoolers who need strong structure. Not only is it important for them to schedule their homework, assignments, and extracurricular activities, but it’s also good to know all expectations and responsibilities upfront.
As things are changing from break to school, be straightforward and clear about screen time limits.
Also, be clear about expected chores. If they know what chores need to be accomplished each day, they can accomplish them at their best time or when scheduled, rather than being asked to take out the trash in the middle of schoolwork or relaxation time.
5) Stay Positive About The Start Of A New Semester
Children can deal with all kinds of stresses that we don’t fully understand. As they transition to different school years, or from elementary to middle to high school, there can be a lot of nervousness bound up in them.
New things can be scary for anyone, especially if they’re dealing with changes in their bodies and hormones, along with pre-teen and teenage heartbreaks and woes; school changes can be particularly stressful.
As a parent, you get to provide them with a safe environment of affection, love, and understanding. Staying calm and encouraging but not negating their emotions will help them so much. Children often look to adults to know what to do. They are also looking to adults to know how to feel. They will mirror your attitude and emotions regarding your outlook for the next school semester.
Join Us At St. Paul Lutheran School In Royal Oak, MI
Are you looking for a nurturing and academically enriching environment for your child? Consider enrolling your child at St. Paul Lutheran School in Royal Oak, MI, for the upcoming school year.
St. Paul Lutheran School in Royal Oak is committed to academic excellence and the development of mind, body, and spirit. Our dedicated teachers and staff create a nurturing environment that promotes motivation, self-discipline, and respect for others.
Join us at St. Paul Lutheran School Royal Oak and for academic excellence and character development. Contact us today to learn more about our admissions process and to schedule a tour of our campus. We look forward to welcoming your family into our school community!