s to be most accurate during the summer—it’s already August and time to get back into your family’s school year routine. For many students and parents/guardians, the next few weeks can be a rather chaotic time, but there are several ways that you can help minimize potential stress and ensure a smooth transition as your kids head back to school.
Have a plan in place + establish routines
There can be many anxieties for students as they begin a new school year and those feelings can often cause you stress, as well. Before the first day of school, be sure to spend time with your child talking about what the new year will look like. This could include wake-up time, preparing clothes and backpacks the night before, coordinating whether they will be eating free breakfast and lunch at school in the cafeteria or bringing food from home, how they will be getting to and from school or extracurricular activities, and even what the after-school and homework routines will be. By helping your student be more prepared and answering any questions he or she has, you will help put everyone at ease before the big day.
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Prioritize sleep
Sudden changes in sleep schedules can significantly impact a person’s equilibrium and shift his or her mood and behavior quite drastically. This is especially true for children and adolescents, but a lack of sleep can highly affect adults, as well. It’s important to ensure that both you and your child are getting enough sleep each night. For adults, it’s recommended to sleep for at least 7 to 9 hours, while teenagers need at least 8 to 10 hours and younger school-aged kids need anywhere from 9 to 12 hours.
Make time for fun activities + relaxation
A new school year brings a variety of changes and feelings for students and families, and it can be rather overwhelming. Instead of focusing on school/work and technology (phone, television, or computer screens), families can engage in enjoyable activities together or on their own, whether that means through exercise, games, playing outside, taking part in self-care activities, or a number of other options for relaxation. What’s important is that both adults and kids are able to pause and rest physically and mentally not only to relieve stress but also to feel refreshed and ready to accomplish goals ahead.
Have realistic expectations
Every child and parent/guardian is unique, and success looks different for everyone. As a parent/guardian, you will make mistakes at times, and your children will, too. Rather than always focusing on outcomes, you can applaud your child’s efforts and also give yourself some grace when things don’t go as you planned or hoped.
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Create a positive environment at home
Even though teachers aim to foster positive and uplifting atmospheres for their students, at the beginning of the school year, many students can still develop feelings of insecurity and anxiety. By offering encouragement, positive reinforcement, and an environment in which your child feels safe to share those feelings with you, you can help your student increase confidence levels and reduce stress. This will also help decrease your own stress, as well, by continuing to promote a peaceful and loving environment for all.
At Downey Unified, we seek to help all of our families so our students have the highest opportunities for success. You can visit our Parent Resources page for additional helpful information for the upcoming school year. We are thrilled to have you and your child as part of our Downey Unified family, and we look forward to an incredible year ahead!