Back-to-School Time: 7 Tips to Help Children Adjust

by Evette Horton
Founder
Chapel Hill/Carrboro Mothers Club

What do you mean Back-to-School Time? It's only August and I'm headed to the beach! Well, it's never too early to plan for a smooth transition to school, whether that's the first day of Kindergarten or First Grade, a new preschool or a childcare setting. Starting something new can make kids and parents alike anxious, but just a little bit of planning and time can go a long way to making it a pleasant transition for everyone!

NAEYC (The National Association for the Education of Young Children) lists seven ways to help your child transition at back-to-school time:

1. Be enthusiastic about the upcoming change. If you are excited and confident, your child will be, too.
2. Prepare yourself. Take note of how your child reacts to separation. If possible, visit the new setting with your child. Introduce your child to the new teacher and/or setting in advance. Walk around and let your child see how "cool" the new place will be.
3. Arrange a playdate with another child from the program, preferably one-on-one, so that your child will see a familiar face when she walks in. When my oldest was going to Kindergarten, he knew no one who was going to be in Kindergarten with him. I asked the principal at the school if I could set up a little playdate on the playground for rising Kindergarten parents! We met several families that we are still friends with 3 years later!
4. Start daily routines that will add to continuity. Let your child become involved with packing lunch or laying out clothes. Also, begin an earlier bedtime several weeks before.
5. Put aside extra time, particularly on the first day, for chatting and commuting together. But remember not to prolong the good-bye. If the child whines or clings, staying will only make it harder.
6. Always say good-bye to your child. Be firm, but friendly about separating. Never ridicule a child for crying. Instead, make supportive statements like, "it's hard to say good-bye."
7. When you pick up your child at the end of the school day, always take a few minutes to first connect with them. Give them a big hug. Reuniting is just as important as saying good-bye.

Posted August 2007