Making that yearly transition from summer fun to school routines is never easy. After an unconventional school year, hybrid and remote learning, and all the challenges that kids faced during the global pandemic, this year’s transition may feel a little different.
For some, who’ve missed out on milestones and peer activities, it might be easier to get excited about a new school year. Other kids, used to remote learning, may be more resistant to change than in years past. No matter how your child is feeling about school this year, there are some ways you can make that transition from summer to school a little easier. Read on to find out how.
Enroll your child in a school that inspires them.
Kids are like anyone else. If they have an interest in something, they’re more likely to be excited about learning. One way to get your child ready for a new school year is to be sure you’re sending them to a school that stimulates them.
For example, while one child might do well at a traditional public school, another child might have a particular interest in the visual arts and lose interest in the average school’s curriculum. Kids who are passionate about the expressive arts could become lifelong learners if you take notice early on and consider sending them to an art school at an early age.
MUSE Academy is a private school with a mission of encouraging future active citizens who touch their communities as expressive artists. Kids who love to act, draw, perform, or the arts in general, tend to do well at Muse and will be more likely to be excited about a return to school in a setting that encourages their specific interests.
Use back-to-school clothes shopping to get them excited.
Even if your kids are excited about returning to school, being a first-year kindergarten student, their early childhood education program, or heading into their senior year, one great way to turn their attention to the upcoming school year is through the tradition of back-to-school shopping.
From notebooks and binders to baby sunglasses and the perfect outfit for the first day of school, back-to-school shopping sprees give kids a break from summer routines and can be an opportunity to begin setting goals for the new year. A day at the mall picking out backpacks in a variety of colors is a great way to spend time with your child before the school year begins as well.
Reunite your kids with peer groups.
Maybe your kids haven’t seen their friends since the pandemic. Perhaps your child has missed out on the social development that comes with activities after school in the last year. As a new year begins, it’s a great idea to get children used to being together again. Think about setting up a playdate or signing your child up for a summer sport or club to get them excited about being with peers again. Just being around other kids before that school bell rings is a great way for kids to adjust to a new routine again.
Begin changing habits and bedtime routines.
About two weeks before school starts, it’s a good idea to get your child into a school year routine with things like bedtimes and showers. If your child has had a different bedtime over the summer, get them in the habit of going to bed and getting up earlier now. Doing so will help make the transition back to school easier. You’ll want to think about mealtimes and other routines like how much screen time is allowed, too.
In the end, whether your child loves school or resists, you’ll have a better chance of a happy kid on the first day of school if you start doing what you can now to make that transition easier. In taking some additional time now to make sure your child is ready for kindergarten, daycare, and even high school, you and your child will thank yourself for it this fall.