It’s back-to-school time for the kiddos and with everything to do like shopping for supplies, new school clothes, and getting schedules organized, it can be a very stressful time not only for you but for your kids too. You have to be ready to send them back and they may not want to go back because – let’s face it – they just spent the summer having fun, not having to do homework and enjoying the beautiful weather.
With all the planning and preperation it’s no wonder back-to-school time becomes a stressful. To make things go a little more smooth, here are four tips to make the new school year as easy on all of you as possible:
Stay Positive
Kids pick up on your stress. If they know that you’re anxious or have anxiety it will trickle down to them which can be a recipe for disaster. By using a positive approach when they say for instance “I don’t want to go back to school” turn it into a positive by replying “just think… you’ll get to see all the friends you haven’t seen all summer.” Remember to promote the good things!
Pace yourself
Yes, you have the lists and you know what they need on the first day of school. Get the essential school supplies to begin with and then add things as they come up. Certain items can absolutely wait. The same holds true for new school clothes. Purchase a few new outfits for now and as the seasons change you can continue to add to their wardrobe. And don’t forget, they are kids. Once they see what their peers are wearing, their entire taste in attire may change!
Communicate
We know that stress is bad for our health and it is our job to teach children how to deal with their own stress. The best way to do that is to get them to talk about it. Sit down in a relaxed atmosphere and have a conversation with them. Listen to their concerns and tell them it’s okay to worry, but also show them how to overcome their anxiety. Together you can accomplish a lot and… these types of chats will also stop them from keeping their feelings bottled up. Talking things out is one of the biggest stress relievers there is.
Make it an exciting time
Back to school should really be exciting. It’s an opportunity for children to look forward, grow into young adults, and think about the future. Ask them what they’re excited about. Maybe it’s seeing old friends, perhaps there’s a new class they’re looking forward to, older kids may be becoming licensed drivers this year (well they will be excited about that – maybe not you). There’s always something good that can be focused on.
Turn that frown upside down and you’ll watch the stress go away. If everyone makes the best of the moment, back-to-school will go off without a hitch!
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