Survival 101: Back to School Edition
- by Casey Harris, LPC
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in Family
Parents, are you ready? Ready for what, you may wonder. Most parents in Alabama and in the south in general are preparing to get their children ready to go back to school.
Whether you have one child or multiple children, this can be a particularly stressful time- school supplies, school clothes, school schedules, etc.
This year, returning your children back to school may bring about a heightened sense of anxiety. As COVID-19 as well as other childhood illnesses continue to be a concern, it can be challenging to determine the best measures to take in an effort to protect your family while ensuring that your children get an education.
School will no doubt be different this year, as it was last year. In order to increase your and your children’s potential for a successful school year, I have provided some tips that I hope prove helpful.
Talk About It- If you’re having concerns about school resuming, chances are your children have some feelings about returning to school as well. Before sending your children back to school, plan to have a sit-down discussion about their feelings. Be mindful of how you go about your discussion. Instead of asking “Are you anxious about returning to school?” ask “How are you feeling about returning to school?” You don’t want to cause your children undue anxiety, so your approach when discussing their feelings matters.
Plan Your Weekday Routine- No matter how much they try to resist it, children thrive off of a routine. Have you thought about what yours will look like once school resumes? You can’t plan for everything, so keep your routine simple and consistent. Things to consider for your schedule include time allotted for homework, leisure/extracurricular activities, dinner/family time, light chores (emphasis on light), and bedtime. The mornings and afternoons tend to be easier to manage, so be the most mindful of your evening routine.
Social Skills and Bullying- No matter your child’s age, you want them to be and feel safe and secure. As a family, discuss with your children what to do if they encounter a bully at school or through the internet. It’s also important to help your children understand how not to be a bully and how to be a friend. The best way to do this is to have practice sessions. This will increase your child’s confidence and further open the lines of communication.
Parental Self-care- We can’t seem to get away from someone mentioning self-care these days. That’s because it’s often neglected, but it’s so necessary- especially for parents. If you don’t intentionally take time to rest and recharge while doing some things you enjoy, then you will reach burnout, and your children will feel it. They need you at your best as they manage their unique challenges.
Helping your children navigate the school years is no easy task. If you apply these brief, yet effective tips, then you will increase your and your children’s chances of being able to handle whatever challenge that arises. Lastly, get to know your child’s school officials, as this will further help you in helping your children successfully manage the school year.
If you find that you or your child needs assistance from a therapist as the school year progresses, please contact (256) 258-7777 or info@thebalancedlifellc.com.
