The back-to-school season is here, and for many parents, that means an anxious moment as they start to pitch plans for the new year. For some parents, the anxiety may be felt more than others. For others, it might come down to a specific type of parent. Regardless of how you think about the beginning of the year as one of the most stressful times, you can at least take steps to make sure your kids are as excited as possible about going back to school. Make sure they understand why it’s such a critical time and what they can do to make it one they look forward to. Here are a few tips on how you can get your kiddos into the right frames of mind for back-to-school.
1. Involve Them in Back to School Shopping
One great way to start getting them mentally prepared and excited for school is to shop for school supplies. Let them be involved in the process for added excitement. They can pick their backpack, shoes, customized notepads, and other materials. It allows them to put their own personal styles and likes in their choices which also helps kids notice similar interests and become conversation starters.
2. Get Them Excited About New Schoolmates
Have you ever noticed how kids can be friends with one or two kids from school before they say hello to the new kid in class? Get your child excited about the new kids around their grade level and make sure they are excited about meeting them. Even if they don’t know any of them, they can anticipate meeting new people and starting a friendship.
3. Get Involved in School & Community Activities
Get your child excited about their new school by ensuring they participate in school and community activities to make them feel more connected to their community. Whether it’s the first day of school, the first day of kindergarten, or any other milestone in the school year, make sure your child has some familiarity to make it more comfortable for them. It might be a good idea to take them to the local library during summer break to participate in classroom-like activities. Many libraries offer book reading hours along with other activities children and their parents are welcome to participate in for free. This could help them get used to engaging with other kids and grown ups outside of the home setting.
4. New Homework Area Can Turn Into A Family Tradition
If your child is a little bit older and has already been to school for a few years, you can create a designated area for them to relax and do their homework. Add a desk, a bean bag, and other items to make the room inviting. It can become their favorite place to hang out with friends at school, or perhaps it’s their favorite place to do homework. Whatever it is, make sure they know it’s a part of their home and can do whatever they want to do there.
5. Summer Bucketlist
Create a summer bucket list to make the most out of their summer break. Schedule child focused activities every week for the kids. Even something as simple as bike riding or a quick trip to the movies. The goal is to make sure they enjoy their summer break as much as possible. You can also plan one last summer activity a couple of weeks before they have to return to school. Plan a weekend getaway or a fun road trip loaded with pit stops and roadside attractions. It’s a great way to end the summer on a great note and keep them excited about what is coming next.
6. Read! Write! Learn!
This is an excellent time to get your kids excited about reading. There are so many new and exciting books out there that are perfect for your child’s age group that it’s hard to go wrong. You can even find some new books on things like coding or robotics that will get them excited about what they might be able to do in the future.
7. Celebrate Their Achievements
A great way to ensure your child has a little excitement going into the new school year is to celebrate their achievements from last year. Whether getting an A on their report card or getting into a new sport, make sure they know that you are proud of the work they have done. You can even do some fun things to celebrate their achievements. Maybe you can get together with other parents and go out for ice cream or take them to a local park and sit down and play a game or two.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of ways that you can help your children get excited about the new school year. The key is to make sure that they have a reason to be excited about the new school year, which means that you must do your part.
About the Author
Regina Thomas is a Southern California native who spends her time as a freelance writer and loves cooking when she can find the time. Regina loves reading, music, and hanging with her friends and family along with her Golden Retriever, Sadie.
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