September is an exciting time!  Children and teachers return to school, establish and re-establish routines, and lay the groundwork for an exciting and successful year full of learning.  Before we know it, the sounds and smells of summer are in our rearview mirror, fall jackets are donned, and leaves begin to change colors.

At the same time, September is a time of transition.  Setting alarm clocks, packing lunches, catching the school bus, and completing homework are all familiar routines, but may have fallen out of practice over those summer months.  Transitions can be smooth for some and bumpy for others. Here are some tips that may ease the transition for your children (and yourselves!):

  • Reestablish consistent routines at home for healthy meals and snack times, as well as nap and nighttime sleep. Having a rested and nourished body, as well as a sense of predictability is soothing for children.
  • If your children are of the age where they will be completing homework, designate a “homework station” at home. The exact location doesn’t matter so long as it can be a quiet place for your child to focus on their work.  Consider having commonly utilized supplies (such as pencils, highlighters, scrap paper) within easy reach.
  • Consider weekend or after-school playdates with peers to foster new friendships and strengthen existing ones. Being greeted by friendly and familiar faces can make all the difference, particularly during those first few weeks of school.
  • Talk to your child about their day with a calm demeanor. Try utilizing specific, pointed questions (e.g. What special area classes did you have today?  What games did you play during recess?) as opposed to more open-ended ones (e.g., How was your day?)
  • Establish connections between home and school, particularly if you have any questions or concerns that you’d like your child’s teacher to be aware of early on. Partnership between home and school provides a team approach that is best able to best support a child.

Welcome back!