Tips for an Easeful Transition from Summer to School
Let’s face it, change is hard! And if the transition from summer to school has you sweating bullets, I’ve got some tips to create more ease for you and your children.
Create a Routine:
I do’t know about you but your summer routine is laid back. We go to bed later than usual, we’re more lax with screen time/tv time, we’re lazy in the mornings…we’re on summer break! I love that we enjoy these slow summer months as a family AND I know what’s coming…school, homework, sports, holidays. It’s time to get back into a routine. Start slowly, go to bed 30 min or an hour earlier each night. Research shows that kids, especially preteens, need at least 9 hours of sleep a night. A recent study found that children who received less than 9 hrs of sleep a night experienced “more mental health and behavioral challenges than those who got sufficient sleep. These included impulsivity, stress, depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior, and thinking problems.” School and sports can place extra stress our children, ensuring they have plenty of restful sleep can alleviate some of the pressure and improve their overall wellbeing.
Make Space for All The Feels:
Anticipate that your child will have BIG feelings about the transition back to school. There can be excitement, anxiety, fear, uncertainty. That’s a lot for our little one’s to hold. The will need support expressing and processing those feelings. When the big feelings rise to the surface, remember, our job is to connect, empathize and be the anchor in their storm.
Connect- get down to their level, “I can see you’re having some big feelings about this”
Empathize- “I get it, the first day of school is a bit scary and exciting”
Be the anchor in their storm- Acknowledging their big feelings and sending the message that you believe in them, you know they can get through this difficult situation just as they have in the past. It can also help to prepare them for what to expect on the first day, if it’s a new school you can do a run through of what to expect/where drop off and pick up locations are, or perhaps identifying a friend they can walk in with and coordinating that before the first day. It’s tempting to want to solve problems for our kids or try to take their discomfort away, but it’s important that our children develop the tools to manage tough situations and that’s where we come in. We can teach them tools such as preparing in advance, using self talk to get through a tough situation, knowing who/where to go for help if we need it, etc.
Keep the Connection Strong
How do you come together as a family? Movie nights, game nights, family walks?
Back to school comes with homework, school projects, sports schedule….things get busy. It’s easy to lose connection and get sucked into the business of life. Make family connection a priority. Keep things light, fun, and family centered.
Prioritize Self Care
Just as our kids need space to vent and express their feelings, so do we. Don’t forget about you! Taking time to tend to your emotional, physical and spiritual needs will help keep you grounded and connected to your needs.
A warm bath, a guided meditation, a walk around the block, a chat with a good friend…whatever feeds your soul, make time for that. It nourishes our body-mind-spirit and sets a healthy example for our children.
I created a pretty PDF version of this post as a quick reference guide. You can find it on the Freebies page. Feel free to share it with your mama friends!
Remember, you don’t have to do motherhood alone. Your village is waiting for you. If you need support on your parenting journey, click here to schedule a free intro call today.
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