Beating the "Back 2 School" Blues

The lazy days of summer have come and gone, leading to the start of a brand new school year. While the transition back to school is exciting for some children, others battle with the "back to school blues." Knowing that not all kids share the same excitement for the beginning of a new school year, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks to making it as positive as possible.

It’s extremely important to emphasize the positive things about going back to school, like hanging out with old friends, making new friends, seeing classmates, getting involved in sports and clubs, and showing off the new duds (or snazzy accessories if your child has to wear a uniform).

It is equally important to talk to your student about worries or insecurities they may have and offer reassurance. Are they afraid they won’t make friends? Are they worried about going to a new school? Is the idea of homework stressing them out? Are they worried about being bullied? Remind them it’s ok to feel nervous and have worries – everyone does! You may want to explain to them that adjusting to the new routine may take some time, but they’ll get used to it soon.

You may want to consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it's especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the school day for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don't have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give kids as much time as they need, especially during those first few days.

To help ease back-to-school butterflies, make sure that they:

- get enough sleep: establish a reasonable bedtime so that they'll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning

- eat a healthy breakfast: they're more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day

- write down the need-to-know info to help them remember details such as their locker combination, what time classes and lunch start and end, their homeroom and classroom numbers, teachers' and/or bus drivers' names, etc.

- have them organize and set out what they need the night before: homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the door and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms

Speaking of... Love it or hate it, homework is a very important part of school. To help your child get back into the scholastic swing of things:

- Make sure there's a quiet place that's free of distractions to do homework.

- Don't let kids watch TV when doing homework or studying. Set rules for when homework and studying need to be done, and when the TV can be turned on and should be turned off.

- If your kids are involved in social media, be sure to limit the time spent on these activities during homework time.

- Never do their homework or projects yourself. Instead, make it clear that you're always available to help or answer any questions.

- Review homework assignments nightly, not necessarily to check up, but to make sure they understand everything.

As a parent you can't do it all! Be sure to encourage your child to:

- develop good work habits from the get-go, like taking notes, writing down assignments, and turning in homework on time

- take their time with schoolwork

- ask the teacher if they don't understand something

To ensure kids get the most out of school, maintain an open channel of communication with the teachers by e-mailing or talking with them throughout the school year to discuss your kids' academic strengths as well as weaknesses. Not only will this help your child, but it will also help ease any worries or concerns you may have.

Most of all, whether it's the first day of school or the last, make sure your kids know you're there to listen to their feelings and concerns, and that you don't expect perfection — only that they try their best.

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