Tips for Helping Kids Transition Back to School

For many kids, the transition back to school can be hard. Whether it’s their first time or fifth time, going back to school is complicated and comes with a lot of big feelings! Preparing kids for a big transition can help them build resilience and feel more successful. Here are some tips for preparing kids for going back to school this Fall! 

1. Talk about it!

   Even if kids have been in school for a few years, they will still most likely be in a new classroom with new kids, a new teacher, and maybe even a brand new building. Talk about what they might expect to see or experience when they go back to school. Will they be expected to sit at a desk? Will there be a lot of kids in their classroom? Do they go to the lunchroom to eat? Will they ride the bus? Some of these spaces can be loud and overwhelming, while other spaces come with certain expectations, like being quiet in the library. Talking about these possible scenarios can help kids feel more confident and prepared! 

2. Help them build coping skills

Even for most prepared kids, school can be challenging and overwhelming. Talk to your kids about some coping skills they could use when things feel hard at school. These could include taking a deep breath, reciting a positive mantra or phrase, squeezing a lovey, or looking at a picture of a loved one.

3. Read books about going back to school.

Reading a story is a great way for kids to visualize and mentally prepare for some different scenarios at school. Books like “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold and “Let’s Get Ready for School” by Jane Porter are some great choices. Another favorite is “Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes” by Eric Litwin. This book is a great choice because it not only describes different school scenarios but also offers a coping skill of singing the mantra “I’m rocking in my school shoes”. Maybe you read this book with your little one to prepare for school and ask if they want to pick a special pair of shoes or clothes to make them feel like they’re rocking their day at school too! 

"All Are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold

“Let’s Get Ready for School” by Jane Porter

“Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes” by Eric Litwin.

4. Create a mantra together

In the aforementioned Pete the Cat book, he sings "I'm rocking in my school shoes!" all throughout his school day and all through the different classes and scenarios he faces. Maybe this is a helpful mantra for your kiddo as they navigate their new school day! At Bloom, one of our mantras we try to teach our kids is "roll with it". When something unexpected happens, sometimes all we can do is roll with it and keep moving! You can find an excerpt from the song below:

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/0e4f8d_bb8f3d692c3f4b118524f3ec9cc4262c/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Miss Sarah is wearing a green shirt playing a ukulele while an animated dog and lion dance in the background

When kids feel prepared for what's coming next, they're more likely to succeed and do well. We can start equipping kids at home to face new and challenging situations, helping them build the coping skills and resilience necessary to navigate life as they grow!