Transitions From Home To School Preparing your child for the transition of going back to school can be easier when you use these recommendations. When transitioning your child from summer to the start of the school year, you need to help prepare your child the best you can for this change in their life. It is important to find a balance between talking too much about it and not preparing the child enough. Your emotions about this transition can be helpful or harmful to your child. For example: if you are worried about your child starting school they will pick up on it and will be anxious too. If you do not prepare your child enough they may become worried about what this school year will be like. You know your child better than anyone. adapt these tips to best suit your child. Getting out of summer mode is a change to everyone’s system. So talk to your child about going to school. Listen to what they have to say and do your best to ease any worries. Your child might be thrilled about it and then that excitement can be so much fun! Again talk to your child to see what emotions they are feeling about this next phase in their life. To best prepare for the new transition of going to school here are some practical tips: Begin to practice the new routines in these certain areas about three days before school starts to make them become a pattern of living. Creating a visual schedule on these items will make the task concrete and predictable for your child.
Bedtime - Go to bed earlier, the same time as the school year. Changing the sleep pattern will give the kids time to adjust to waking earlier. Bedtimes that I suggest are the following. These times may vary depending on what time their school starts.
Elementary School kids around 8:30 p.m.
Middle School kids around 9:00 p.m.
High School kids around 9:30 p.m.
Bedtime Routine - Establish a bedtime routine - bathing, brushing their teeth, discussing the next day’s agenda, reading together, etc. Use a visual schedule.
Rising Times- Get your child up when it is time for them to wake during the school year about three days before school starts. Have them get moving, eat breakfast and get dressed early. Use a visual schedule.
Routines - Practice routine behaviors for the morning and get ready like it was a school day so you can practice your timing. Use a visual schedule.
Organization - Help them pack their backpack or give them the expectation of how to pack it, when to pack it and what should go in it.
Storage -Determine where the backpack will be kept at home so it can be found each day
Lunch - Who will be responsible for packing the lunch. Does it go in the backpack or stays outside of the pack. Practice carrying it too.
Bus -Practice walking to the bus so your child can feel how much time it takes and they are better prepared.
Behavior - Remind them of the appropriate bus behavior. Sitting in their seat and keeping their body out of the aisle. They should control their voices so they can hear the bus driver.
Getting your child out the door prepared for the first day of school will be very beneficial to you both. I hope this is a great start to your school year!
Sample visual schedules are attached below. Feel free to download them.