Back to School!

Who is transitioning and what it means

Both parents and students make meaningful and important changes in preparation for the back to school season! For parents with students in K-12, shifts start way before school does. Financial planning for back to school shopping, sports and other school extracurriculars usually start weeks to months in advance. Parents and guardians should also start making sleep schedule transitions with their students between 6-8 weeks before the first day of school to establish a healthy and stable sleep routine. Easily overlooked preparations parents forget to make are the emotional ones. Commonly, school is a stressful environment for some students emotions, processing, socializing and more. Emotional regulation and boundary setting are just as important as the supplies bring with them. 

Ways to make the transition seem less abrupt and discombobulated 

Surveys say that the scheduling and routine aspect of going back to school is one among many of the stressors experienced by students returning to their studies. The sudden snap of being back into class, homework and sports routines often causes  feelings of burnout, anxiety and more; However, these intense feelings can also be regulated and efforts to learn what works best for you can easily be practiced in advance. Options such as meditation, breathing techniques, journaling and mindfulness exercises can all help you regulate and stabilize in the moment or help you release stress at a later time. Experimenting and experiencing are the best ways to find what works best for you.

How to make a comfortable space to express expectations and emotions

Students having expectations of their parents may seem different, inappropriate or even wrong to some parents at first, but it provides many different benefits for them and their future. An expectation can be something as simple as expecting a certain amount of support from a parent. Teaching our students early that it’s okay to express emotions and expectations of those around us not only helps them develop behaviors like questioning what doesn’t feel right and standing up for themselves, but also builds trust between the relationship and helps hold the right people accountable. Creating a safe space for your student can look like many things. One student's comfort space could look completely opposite to another's, so it's important to establish an understanding of what that looks like for your student(s) and as a parent. Be receptive and actively listen. Remember and respect the different aspects of life that are changing for your student. Be open minded and supportive!

Some individuals flourish through change, some do not, and everyone can have a different reaction to it. What's important is you do not have to do it alone and you do not have to do it silently. It's important for your processing to voice and express the stressors weighing on you. You deserve love and support throughout the whole year, not just the school year!