Easing Those Back-to-School Jitters

Whether it’s their first time going to school or they’re coming back after summer break, the first day of school can be a little difficult for children. As parents, we want to do whatever we can to alleviate their first day jitters.

Here are a few things you can do to calm those anxieties and make sure the first day is more exciting than stressful!

Ease Out of the Summer Schedule

Many families fall into a different schedule over the summer. We want to relax, enjoy the nice weather, and take advantage of the extra daylight. So, dinner comes a little later, and the bedtimes may have gotten pushed back a bit.

There’s nothing wrong with that! But jumping to the new school-year schedule too abruptly can make the first day more difficult. If you can, adjust to the school schedule gradually, or at least start a few days before. Having to go to bed, wake up, brush teeth, and eat breakfast earlier than usual isn’t too difficult, but you don’t want your child to have to do it all for the first time on the first day of school.

Adjusting to the new schedule ahead of time will make the morning feel more predictable, which will put your child at ease. It will also ensure that they get a good night’s sleep – being tired doesn’t help with those jitters!

Go Over the Great Things About School

When your child is nervous about their first day, it’s easy for them to focus on all the things that worry them. Will they make friends? Will they miss you? Will they like their teacher? Will they be bored all day?

To help calm their worries, you can talk to them about all the great things about school. Tell them what kind of snack you’ll be packing for them, that there will be lots of playing and arts and crafts, and that there will be plenty of kids they can make friends with.

Picture books are a really good way to do this. Check out a few books with a back-to-school theme from the library and read them together. The visuals and the stories will give them a more vivid idea of what it will be like to go to school or remind them of all the great things they enjoyed the year before!

Involve Your Child in First-Day Preparations

Doing things independently gives children a little boost of confidence – and they could really use one on their first day!

Involve your child when it’s time to get things ready. Help them pick out their first-day outfit and get them to place it on the dresser, let them dress themselves in the morning, and ask them to help you prepare and pack their school lunch.

Doing that will help them feel better about themselves and it will also take their mind off those nervous feelings.

Visit the School and Meet the Teacher

We know how difficult the first day can be. That’s why we hold “Meet and Greets” to help families prepare for the big day. This year's events are set for Tuesday, September 2, the day before the first day, at all schools from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Drop in any time! The children will get to see the school and walk the halls, visit their classroom, and meet their teacher.

Nothing melts away the first day worries like seeing where they’ll be spending their days and meeting the teacher who will be there with them.

Final Thoughts

Going to school is fun! But it can be a big change, so it’s normal for kids to feel nervous about their first day. We hope you now have some good tips and tricks in your pocket to help the first day go smoothly!