Back to school: tips for success
Is it back-to-school time already?
Going back to, or even starting school, can be chaotic. And once they start that school, it doesn’t get any easier. Here are a few simple tips to help manage the stress of back to school and make this a great year for your child.
“Every school year is a new beginning. A chance to dream bigger, learn deeper, and grow stronger than ever before. Let’s help kids make it count.” Says Dr. Amit Sapra with Family Medicine in Jacksonville.
1. Establish a good routine
Research shows that an established routine with your child makes healthy habits easier.
Consistent routines make good habits easy—you’re helping build the expectation for your child that after you do this, you immediately do that.
Let’s say you’re done with dinner at 8:00 pm. You can build a routine where:
- After dinner, you and your child read or do homework together for an hour.
- Immediately after they have finished their reading time, they brush their teeth.
- And after they brush their teeth, they lie down to go to sleep, in bed at 9:30 pm.
This type of routine is easy to follow and makes the actions of doing their homework, brushing their teeth, and going to bed at a reasonable time second-nature. They expect to do these habits because you helped them know what to do after each step.
If you want to plan a routine for your child, start by taking something they already do in their day-to-day add another easy task. When they get up and wash their face in the morning, ask them to brush their teeth right after. After they had their mid-day snack, ask them to go for a 15-minute walk.
The most important thing is being consistent. A child’s brain is still developing and, like a sponge, learns new things all the time. Make sure that the one thing they learn is a routine that highlights all the good things you want them to do in life.
2. Get those annual doctor’s visits in
Everyone should have annual appointments with their primary care providers, but for children, being back-to-school ready is even more important.
The CDC notes that, on average, students miss 1-3 days of school due to illness. It’s often the joke, but schools are a breeding ground for disease.
Having your child visit their primary care doctor before their first day of school can ensure your child’s immune system is running at full strength and they’re ready to hit the ground running.
Aside from an annual appointment, you will also want to make sure your child has had
- An eye appointment—because if they need glasses and don’t have them for their first day, it’ll happen in a blur.
- Dentist or orthodontist appointment—beautiful, healthy teeth to win over new friends with their smile.
- Sports physical—to make sure their muscles and bones are ready to take the rough-and-tumble of their sports.
- And of course, their vaccinations.
Your primary care doctor can also refer you to any specialty care your child might need—making your primary care is a one-stop shop.
3. Have “The Talk”
The stress management talk, of course.
School is tough. Your child will be juggling studies, making friends, after-school activities, and then getting home to do chores. It’s a lot! And with a still-developing mind, all of the changes can begin to weigh down on your child.
“One of my mantras for success for this school year is: support mental and emotional health,” says Dr. Amit Sapra.
Studies find that too much stress, sometimes called “toxic stress,” can permanently change your child’s brain structure and function. This can lead to your child developing an anxiety disorder or even irrational fears in their day-to-day.
Talking with your child about stress shouldn’t be scary. We all know what it’s like to feel when you have too much on your plate. The most important thing is to be available for your child—and prepared to support them on their journey of discovery.
Stress management doesn’t have to be hard. It can be as simple as:
- Having a sport or physical activity that engages them
- Supporting creative activities, like art or music
- Relaxation with deep breathing or stretching
You can use one of these or all of these to help your child better manage their stress. The tools you teach them now will follow them into adulthood, and teaching them the right tools will prepare them for the realities of the real world.
We all want to see our child succeed. We want to see them grow up and be the stars of the show. The first step is getting them through the rigors of school. Are you and your child ready?
