Back to School Without the Stress: A Guide for Parents and Students
By: Kevin Lahey, LSW
It’s getting to be that time of year again – Back to School! School is coming back into the picture quite quickly, and is coming to push out what was (hopefully) a fun summer. It goes without saying that these can be stressful times for parents and kids, so today, I’m hoping this little write-up will help make things a bit easier. With that being said, I think the best place to start, as it usually is, is with planning!
When I say planning, I mean a variety of things. Some of these things include:
- Confirm class schedules
- For parents/teens, check work schedules to ensure they line up as best as they can with school schedules, or at least here you can identify any gaps or overlap!
- Have school supplies ready
- Double check the school supplies list, unwrap supplies, lay them out or load them up into the students
- Have afterschool plans ready &/or schedule after school care
- (i.e., babysitters, transport, clubs, etc.)
- Opening communication with teachers
- It doesn’t hurt for parents or students to preemptively reach out to teachers for an introduction &/or to check in!
- Have outfits planned for the next day
- Lay out outfits, have lunch pre-packed, put backpacks by the door/shoes – it makes those mornings before school a little easier!
- Decide what the lunch plan will be
- (i.e., from the cafeteria or bringing from home)
I could keep going, but I’m sure you get the gist of it all! Ultimately, it comes down to taking some time to think through what a regular school day will look like, and then ironing out wrinkles in that plan! Everyone’s schedule and timeline will look a bit different, but hopefully some of the things in the list above help to get you thinking! The routine may be the same as the year prior, though it could be completely different! Though a routine, new or old, can be a bit scary, it can also be very exciting to create a new day to day or return to that comfort of structure!
Something I would also like to touch on is dealing with the stress/anxiety of that first week or two back to school. I think it’s important to try and make tougher situations like this a little more fun/rewarding. For example, on that first day back, things might be a bit easier if you plan (for yourself or with your child/teen) to have a good dinner or snack after that first day. Having something positive associated with that first day could end up making it just a tad bit easier. Combine that with some of the planning ideas listed above, and I think you’ll be well on your way to getting into the swing of things sooner rather than later.
If that back to school anxiety is getting to be a bit too much, or there are worries about falling behind on school work, you can always reach out to the team here at Owens & Associates. Many of our clinicians love working with the school age population, and we’ve had a lot of experience dealing with that anxiety. If you or your child is struggling with the transition back to school and you feel some outside help would be effective, we’ve got your back!
Don’t feel like you have to be overwhelmed all by yourself! Let’s work to plan a comfortable routine for yourself, child, teen, or whole family. Parent, child, adolescent, college student, or someone just facing something new this late-summer/pre-fall season, we’d love to collaborate with you about it to set you up for a happy, successful, and smooth next few months.
With offices in Collinsville, Lake in the Hills, St. Charles, and Schaumburg, Illinois (plus telehealth), our team is easily accessible and ready to help you build the connections, confidence, and support system you deserve!
View the list of our clinicians to see who you feel like you would connect with the most.
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