How to Get Your Kids Mentally Prepared for School
By Genevieve Cunningham
The school year is almost upon us. For some, this is an exciting time of year! School means learning and friends and things to do. For others, it’s dreadful. School means hours indoors, homework, and incredibly busy schedules. Wherever your child falls on this spectrum, there are some things that you can do to help your child get mentally ready. Take a look at these tips to help your child transition from summer back to school without a hitch.
Talk It Out
Help your kids get prepared by getting them talking and engaged in discussion. Ask them questions about how they feel and what they expect from the new school year. Allow them to ask questions to you or to an older sibling. Bottom line: Leave the lines of communication open so that they can get a little guidance and comfort when they need it.
Get the Routines Going
Now is a great time to start getting back on track when it comes to routines. Sure, we all stay up later in the summer and sleep in longer than we should. But with school only weeks away, it’s a great time to get back into those normal routines. Start going to bed on time and waking up early with an alarm. Eat breakfast early and lunch at a reasonable hour. The more your routines begin to look and feel normal, the easier it will be to slip back into the school routine when it gets here.
Let Them Take Some Ownership
Kids are more involved in things when you allow them some ownership over what’s happening. No matter how old your kids are, give them some options. Let older kids choose some of their electives and whether or not they take or buy lunch. Let younger kids pick out some of their school supplies and fun meals for lunch. The more invested they are personally, the easier it is to find a groove once school begins.
This is an interesting time of year. It marks another passage, gets kids motivated, and also induces a bit of anxiety. To help your kids prepare and be mentally fit for the upcoming year, just use these tips. With some preparation and support, your children may be looking at one of their most successful years yet.
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