Across the county, kids and teens headed back to the classroom. Some students, parents, and teachers were excited, while others were sighing about the end of summer. Either way, it marked a big change in everyone’s life. And the back-to-school transition isn’t always easy.
To help there, we teed up three things that can smooth the rough edges of a new school year.
Get on the new schedule
If bedtimes and morning alarms have changed, it can leave everyone involved feeling groggy and grumpy. When those first few weekends of the school year roll around, we all want to settle back into the summer sleep schedule.
That can be challenging to change. Everyone has an internal clock called a circadian rhythm. It’s what helps people fall asleep at night and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.
We get used to a sleep cycle and resetting that circadian rhythm to the new schedule takes time.
So, decide on a “wake up” time that gives plenty of room to get ready for school without feeling rushed. You want time for kids and adults to have a few moments to reset, do morning routines (brush teeth, get dressed, have breakfast, etc.), and arrive at school on time and ready to start the day.
Think through food prep
We don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about eating that seems way more complicated once the school year gets underway. Breakfast can be a chaotic time and if the kids or teens in your family pack lunches, that adds an extra to-do to everyone’s list.
Carve out some time over the weekend to get food ready for the week. If you can prep a few breakfasts to grab on the busy days, your future self will thank you. The same goes for lunches. Make-ahead meals can streamline the school week.
And if you’re a parent reading this, remember: you don’t have to figure this out alone. Your kids are going to be eating these meals, so they can (and probably should) weigh in on them. Ask for meal ideas and consider making your weekend meal prep time a family affair.
Talk about it
There’s almost no more important time to be communicating as a family. If you’re a parent, ask your kids about their school day. This should be more than just a cursory “how was it?” Ask about their teacher, their friends, where they’re sitting, what they learned. Pay attention, too. Your kids may not volunteer what’s challenging at first. Stay curious and stay engaged so they know you’re there if they want to talk anything through.
If you’re a student, know that your parents are there to be a resource to you. If anything feels hard or confusing (which is totally normal at the start of a new school year), discussing it with your parent(s) can help. They’ve been through school year starts themselves and they might have advice. Even if they don’t, just talking about it can make you feel better.
Long story short, if the back-to-school transition feels taxing, it’s time to start talking. It might be helpful to set a time to check in with each other at the end of the day.
These are all fairly simple things, which makes them a great place to start. But if you or your family members could use a little extra support during this back-to-school transition, we’re here. Contact our team at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center today.
