As summer creeps to an end parents around the state are starting to think about what needs to be done for this upcoming school year. It is hard to believe it is that time of year again but here we find ourselves ready to pack up our swimsuits and bug spray and get together our school supplies.
We know this can be a daunting task so we gathered parents top 5 back to school preparation tips. These tried and true tips are what other parents just like you have done in these last remaining weeks of summer to set their children up for a successful school year.
Start changing your kids bedtime
For many families summer is way more relaxed than the school year is. Routines change, some go away completely and for many kids bedtimes are later than they are during the school year. While this is a probably a welcome change for your child, you want to try and avoid and overly exhausted student to start the year off on a strong foot.
Slowly work your child's bedtime back to where it is during the school year. If your children are younger try getting bedtime started in smaller increments earlier each night until you have it back to normal. Once it is back to normal try to avoid any late night plans or disturbances to the new routine.
If your children are older we know that this is easier said than done. This could be a great time to have an open conversation with them and practice those communication skills. Tell them that school is on the horizon and you want to make sure that they are set up for the most successful year possible.
Tell them that in order to have that they need to be well rested and it is much easier to try and work on your sleep schedule now when they don't have school every day. Chat with them about a reasonable "bedtime" goal and how using technology late at night could impact that.
If your child is older but you don't think they would really bite on the idea of trying to go to bed earlier, plan some early morning activities these next couple of weeks. You can make some of them fun so they enjoy the need for rising early. Maybe "one big last summer extravaganza" day outside, or something you know your child would enjoy.
You could also strategically plan any last minute doctors appointments, shopping trips, and errands earlier in the morning so their bodies get used to being up earlier than they have been. This also gives them the opportunity to notice how their body feels when they don't get the proper sleep their body needs.
A crabby teen at Target doing some back to school shopping is much better than a crabby teenager trying to learn and retain information at school. This can help them feel more tired by the time they go to bed, and they just might fall asleep a bit earlier!
2. Speaking of back to school shopping - let's rebrand it!
We don't know about you, but absolutely everything we do is more expensive than it was in the past. As the cost of living continues to climb we know that back to school shopping could be a little bit scary this year.
Our tried and true back to school shopping tip is - less is more! This year we encourage you to do an inventory check of the items around your house that you may already have before heading out to the store. Is there an old folder that is still in great shape? Slap a sticker on that and you have a brand new math folder! Same things go for binders and other school supplies - reusing them is good for the planet and good for your pockets!
If your child is the kind of kid who gets really excited about organizing all their back to school supplies - that doesn't have to change! You can tweak this tip however it fits into your family. Maybe you reuse last years folders but you get all new pens and highlighters so they can get them all organized. Maybe you take a trip to the dollar store and grab some stickers to get a little fun and crafty with last years supplies so they feel new. You can mix and match with new and reused supplies so that your child feels that new school year excitement, while not breaking the bank.
The same goes for clothes - how many times have you bought your child a totally new wardrobe only for it to be entirely uncool by October? Do a similar inventory check of your child's closet and see what they really need to start off the year strong. Get them what they need but don't feel like you have to overextend the budget. Let them know that you will take them out throughout the year to refresh their wardrobe when new styles and trends emerge.
3. Start Planning for your child's future now!
Is your child 14-17 years old? If so, have you started thinking about what comes after high school for them? We know this can be a scary thing to think about - and you don't have to do it alone! Join our Transition Mastermind today to have a group of parents just like you to figure out your child's next step together.
What's a Mastermind? A Mastermind is simply a group of peers coming together to mentor one another, solve problems together, answered each other's questions, and get advice and inspiration from the other members who are pursuing a common goal.
Who should attend? Parents of children who have a mental health challenge who are of transition age (14 - 25) who are curious about what their child's life after high school could be and want to learn about options and how to plan and prepare their child for independence (whatever that may look like for their individual child).
To learn more and sign up today to be a part of our FREE Transition Mastermind click the below!
4. Get organized yourself
Especially for parents of children who struggle with their mental health - getting organized now can help save you some headaches later. When you have some time find a notebook or binder that you want to designate for this year, for each child.
In it you can write down any important information that might be necessary later on, but could be hard to find if you are stressed or overwhelmed. For example their psychiatrists name and number. We know that you have this information elsewhere but it can be really helpful to have one place with all the information regarding your child incase something happens and you need to access it quickly.
Throughout the year this is where you can write down interactions with the school. If your child experiences bullying, has a hard time at school, needs extra support in certain areas, whatever arises throughout the year note it in your notebook. This gives you a log to look back on and make sure that the school is doing what they said they would do, and also allows you to see what areas your child has both grown in and struggled with throughout the year.
5. Address anxiety head on
Anxiety is very lonely for children. Having your brain race back and forth between scary thoughts can make a child feel both overwhelmed and like they are the only person who feels this way. This is a great time to sit your children down and have an honest discussion about any anxiety they have for this upcoming school year.
Perhaps they are going to a new school and they are feeling anxious about making friends or fitting in. Maybe they have heard that this school year is more academically challenging than the last and that makes them nervous. Open up the floor for your children to talk about their anxieties, and if you have ever experience similar feelings let them know! Just being able to speak your anxieties out into the world and hear that you're not the only one who has ever felt that way can be so powerful for a child who struggles with anxiety.
If your child is anxious about making and keeping friends this school year check out our FREE and INTERACTIVE Friendship eBook here so you can help!
Once your child shares their anxiety with you let them know that you are always on their team. Tell them that you are here to help and you want them to come to you with their anxious thoughts in the future.
If you are having trouble helping your child manage their anxiety check out what has worked for other parents just like you to some of the most common childhood anxieties.
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