The end of August is an exciting time for kids (and parents) as they get ready to go back to school, but it can be hard to transition out of summer mode. As a former teacher, I can tell you that it’s just as hard for teachers! Everyone wants their child to start the school year off confident and happy. From my experience, there are some simple things you can do to make sure your child starts the school year off right.

Preview

Even if your child is super excited for school, there are always little worries about what to expect. A good way to ease those anxieties is through literature. There are many great books out there about the first day of school – some are even specific to the grade level. Here are a few of my favorites:

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneburg

This School Year Will be the Best! By Kay Winters

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Get into a Routine

Usually our summer days are more relaxed and less structured. Setting up a routine for your family now will help create a less hectic first week of school. Here are some ideas:

Wake your kids up early at a certain time each morning and have them get ready for the day

Make the schedule a little tighter: limit screen time and add in chores

Set a bedtime and read every night before bed

School Supplies

Going back to school shopping may seem like an obvious one, but it’s important to make sure you get everything on the back-to-school list. Kids are sensitive, and if Mrs. Walsh asks everyone to pull out their blue folder and Timmy doesn’t have his, he’s going to feel anxious. If your child is able to pull out everything he/she needs on that first day, they will feel confident and prepared

Connect with the Teacher

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your child’s teacher. If your child has needs that you want to talk to their teacher about, be proactive and set up a meeting for the first week of school. If your concerns aren’t urgent, I would wait to connect until after the first week of school. That way, the teacher has had time to get to know your child and can match a face to a name.

Make a Play Date

In most schools, once the class lists go out there’s no changing them. Teachers put a lot of time, thought and effort into creating next year’s classrooms, but sometimes decisions are out of their control. Don’t panic if you don’t see your child’s best friends on the list. Instead, make a play date or two with some new classmates. Knowing you have a friend to play with that first day makes all the difference!

I hope these 5 tips will help your child have a confident and smooth transition into the school year! Remember to stay in touch with your child’s teacher throughout the year – they want your child to be happy and successful as much as you do!