It’s almost hard to believe that we are in the final weeks of summer vacation. This year will bring with it many changes for students who participated in remote learning for part or all of the 2020-2021 school year. As a parent, I am sure you have questions related to how smoothly this transition will be for you and your children. How will my children manage the demands of having to get up and go to school and then come home and do homework? How will they do academically (did they fall behind with remote learning)? How will they do socially (will they have the same friends and feel comfortable around others)? Listed below are some suggestions to assist with making the transition as comfortable and successful as possible:
- Approach the school year with excitement and optimism. Talk with your children about what they will enjoy most about being back in the classroom.
- Begin to implement the “school routine” with regard to going to bed and getting up in the morning. Keep in mind, sleep is very important for new learning, emotional health and strength of the immune system. Aim for your children to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Have them turn off their devices 60-90 minutes prior to going to sleep.
- If your children have summer work to complete; help them develop a calendar for completion and check in with them regarding their progress. Use timers as needed as prompts to start summer work tasks and check off each assignment as completed. Planners and apps are excellent for tracking completion of assignments. Work with your children to determine what works best for them.
- Identify where they will do their homework each day. Generally, a well lit, quiet space without clutter will work best. Keep device chargers, extra pencils and paper easily accessible.
- Help your children to develop their organizational systems for the school year. This should include systems for both academic and non-academic activities such as extra curricular activities. Identify a place for them to put their backpacks when arriving home from school and after re-packing it for the following day. Where will they keep their musical instruments and their team uniforms for easy access?
- Check in with your children regarding how they are feeling. If you recognize increased stress or anxiety, alert their pediatrician, teacher and guidance counselor. Some children will have an easier time than others with the transition and we want all children to be heard. Normalize their feelings but also let them know that change is a naturally occurring part of life. You can take them through this series of questions to help.
- a. What is changing?
- b. How will this change impact me?
- c. Have I experienced anything similar in my life? If yes, what did I do? If no, what can I do to make this change okay?
- d. Who can I rely on to help me manage this change?
I hope you find these suggestions helpful. If you have any specific questions or concerns related to your children and their transition, please contact me at doreen@thecognitivecoach.net or call me at 732-977-7381. Wishing everyone all the best for the upcoming school year!
