Back to School Is Almost Here

It’s hard to believe it’s late August and the end of summer is quickly approaching.  By now you have most likely unpacked your camper’s bags (done endless amounts of laundry) and have everyone settled into life at home and the family routine. But don’t get too relaxed…because the new school year is just around the corner and it’s time to start the transition from summer to fall.  Saying goodbye to summer is never easy, and the last couple of weeks can be chaotic as we try to make sure everyone is ready for the first day of school.  Most of us have spent the last couple of months with less on our plates.  We have had a break from homework assignments, extracurricular activities and the running around that the school year brings.  So how do we help our children (and ourselves) make the transition from summer mode to school mode as easy as possible?

The following tips may help…

1.      Re-establish Bedtime Routines:  If you have been edging toward a later bedtime during the long days of summer, begin to set up a good bedtime routine for the school year.  Sleep is an essential part of school success, so try to get your child’s sleep patterns back to normal the week leading up to school.

2.     Get Back To Breakfast:  A healthy breakfast will give kids the energy they need to learn.  According to many experts, eating a low-fat, low-sugar, high protein breakfast can have a beneficial influence on school performance. 

3.     Designate A Space To Do Homework:  Establish a routine and an area for your student to do their homework.  An older student can choose to do their work at a desk in their room, while younger children may need a spot at the kitchen table so that you can provide guidance when needed.  What matters most is that they have a place they can use regularly to complete their work. 

4.     Stock Up On School Supplies:  Take your school supply list to the local Target (or wherever you shop) and stock up on required supplies so that your child is prepared for the first day of school.  Have your child join you and pick out some things off the list so they get excited about returning to school with their choice of backpack or favorite character on their notebooks.

5.     Read…Read…Read:  Visit your local library and get your kids’ minds active and ready for learning.  Read some books together, it’s an excellent way to spend time together and refresh reading skills. 

6.     Plan Ahead:  Write down important information for your child to help them remember teachers’ names, room numbers, class schedules and bus numbers.  For children entering Kindergarten or moving up to a new school, it will help them feel more at ease if they are familiar with their surroundings.

7.     Mark It Down:  Use a calendar to record when assignments are due, tests are scheduled, and extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held.  Keep one calendar for all events so you could see if you are getting overbooked. 

8.     Reunite with Friends:  If your child has been away at summer camp, plan a get together with school friends to help get reacquainted with their buddies. 

9.     Anticipate and Address Anxiety:  Going back to school can be stressful for kids of all ages, so head off stress by talking with your children about new experiences.  Be positive and confident in their abilities to take on new challenges. 

1.  Reflect:  Most importantly, reflect on the highlights of the summer and how amazing it was.  Talk about the wonderful times at camp, or on vacation, and how great it’s going to be to get back to it all again in summer 2013.  

 So enjoy the last few weeks of summer and we hope the transition to school life is as smooth as possible.  Have a great school year!!!    

Parents - What to expect "post-camp"

For many parents the send off (to camp) requires enough emotional and logistical effort that there is no time to think about where all this work might lead. So allow me to give you some idea of what to expect on the other end of the calendar when your child returns from camp. It just might help…….to have a "big picture" reminder of what this endeavor is all about.

Expect your child to be tired.  Not just physically tired, but emotionally tired. You see, camp in its best form engages children not just in activities, but as active members of a community.  What does this mean? Your child is about to acquire several "brothers" or "sisters" they will then have to share everything with—personal space; the counselor's attention; time; fun; laughter; decision-making; clean-up (yes, chores!); some of their own personal possessions; and each other's friends. This requires a level of negotiating and give-and-take that most children do not experience in any place but camp!

This experience alone pays dividends. I have parents who have told me their child was so much more cooperative at home after camp.  Or that they got along better with their siblings after camp.  Or that they now eat a broader range of foods or keep their room clean.  Perhaps the most common comment I hear is that their children seem somehow calmer after coming home from camp, which almost seems puzzling to some parents. Where does this calm come from? Once you have the knowledge that you can successfully handle yourself—that you can negotiate with your peers and hold your own and compromise and find out it's just fine—it gives you a sense of confidence that is, well, just calming.

Your child may also be a bit sad after camp. If camp is anything, it is intense. Many children make some of their best friends at camp.  Leaving that rich social environment where you learn you can do things of which you never thought you were capable imparts a temporary emptiness. I call it the August blues. Oh, after a good sleep and a nice dinner (and a few electronics), they'll perk up.  My advice to you as a parent is, keep that first day or two after camp a bit low key. Have it be a time of family reunion. The stories and the songs and the sayings and the new wisdom will gradually come out, and as they do, it is as if your child will suddenly realize all that she has brought home from her camp experience.

And as they reminisce, you may find yourself surprised at the mature young person you are listening to, asking yourself, as many parents have told me they ask themselves: "When did she get so grown up?!" At camp, of course!

Bob Ditter, L.C.S.W  is a child, adolescent, and family therapist in Boston, Massachusetts.