Embracing Both the Familiar and the New

Submitted by Barbara Petrella, Ph.D., Lower School Psychologist

This is the first week of fall.  We have moved into a new season and a new school year.  The transition back to school and into fall often comes with mixed emotions – excitement and nervousness, nostalgia and anticipation.  We may long for the more relaxed days of summer, yet appreciate the return to a faster-paced and predictable routine.  For parents, this time offers you the opportunity to re-establish the comforting traditions of the start of each school year while helping your children adjust to changes and new routines with a growth mindset.  Consistent bedtimes, homework routines, and screen time limits can help pave the way.  While sometimes tedious to enforce, routines provide children with a sense of predictability, helping them adjust more smoothly to the changes that come with a new academic year.

Children may feel nervous about new environments or social dynamics, and parents might experience their own worries. Change can initially feel overwhelming, but propels us towards growth.  Encouraging resilience and reminding kids that it’s okay to feel unsure during periods of change helps build emotional intelligence and self-reliance. Asking open-ended questions like, “What is going really well?” or “What feels hard right now?” creates space for meaningful conversations.

Each school year brings a fresh start with new teachers, classmates, and schedules.  Parents can help ease the inevitable “bumpiness” of this transition by modeling openness to new experiences and positivity when encountering challenges. Framing new experiences as “adventures” rather than “hurdles” encourages curiosity and builds confidence.  I will always remember the time my son was less than a year old, and I was caught in a downpour in the city with a heavy stroller that I could not figure out how to fold to access public transportation.  Rather than let my son see me sweat, I told him we were on an adventure in the rain.  I put the rain cover on the stroller and walked the 30 blocks back to my apartment.  I smiled and chatted the whole way home.  This positive attitude showed my son that a mild to moderate inconvenience was not going to become a hurdle too difficult for us to manage.  

By being predictable, yet flexible, and maintaining a deep sense of connection, your families will navigate this new school year with grace and togetherness.