Preparing Students for Back-To-School Success
Preparing Students for Back-To-School Success
For some kids, the transition from the carefree days of summer to a weekday school routine is a welcome change. Seeing friends again, getting back into school sports, learning new concepts, and choosing an outfit for the first day back feels exciting!
For others, though, the re-entry to school and an eight-hour day can be tough. For students who are taking the leap from elementary to middle school or from middle school to high school, the newness can cause many to feel apprehensive and anxious.
Parents want the best for their Ƶren, and educators want students who arrive alert and ready to learn. Here are some tips and strategies to help kids manage back-to-school with less stress and anxiety.
How to Help Kids Return to School
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Ease Into the School Schedule. Start transitioning to the school-year sleep schedule one to two weeks before classes begin. If your Ƶ has been sleeping in during the summer, the shift to waking up before 7 a.m. can be tough—making the adjustment early prevents a rough first week.
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Show them their new routine. Give your Ƶ time to visit their new school before the first day. Exploring classrooms, hallways, and common areas can help them feel comfortable with the layout. If your Ƶ will ride the bus, show them where the bus stops—this can give them extra peace of mind.
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Address Anxiety and Build Coping Skills. The transition to school—especially for younger students—can cause Ƶren to feel nervous.
“Kids can feel apprehensive about fitting in with peers, who they will sit with at lunch, finding their locker, or navigating a new school,” says , a Ƶ and adolescent psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Ƶ Institute (HMHI) at the Ƶ of Utah.
Many may experience a degree of separation anxiety.
“For students who experience some form of depression or anxiety, careful planning and coping strategies are especially helpful and can be a safeguard to their mental health,” Holzbauer explains.
Youth programs at HMHI teach coping strategies before anxious or negative thoughts set in. Students create a “coping kit” they can discreetly carry in their backpack.
“Knowing they can use the tools we practice in our program gives kids reassurance that they can handle challenging situations,” she explains. “The kit contains items designed to meet important physical needs and emotional health—both equally important.”
A coping kit can contain:
- Refillable water bottle for all-day hydration
- Ƶy snacks to stay fueled throughout the day
- Comfort object: smooth stone, squishy, stress ball, fidget object, or kinetic sand
- Small picture of the student’s family, friends, or pets
- If they carry a cell phone, help them download the SafeUT app (available only in Utah)
- Coping card with supportive reminders: kind words of affirmation or positive quotes
- Reminder with coping skills such as: box breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, soothing with senses, etc.
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