Believe it or not, the back-to-school season is upon us! Where did the summer go? This is a time of significant change for children and can be difficult to get through.
Developing a familiar and comfortable routine before the school year starts will ease the entire family into the transition. When the school year does begin, it’s imperative to stick to your routine so your children can stay focused on their education — disruptions at home will impact their academics.
“For students in the Junior school, I recommend that parents start to shift back into ‘school-mode’ during the second half of August,” said Becca Nydr, School Counsellor at Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School. “This includes having an earlier bedtime and getting in the routine of waking up earlier. This gradual transition technique can help reduce tantrums and ease the process of re-integrating into the school routine.”
Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall Preparatory SchoolBecca Nydr, Aberdeen Hall School Counsellor
A strategy to get your children excited to head back to school is to ask them age-appropriate questions to spark their curiosity.
Questions such as: what are you looking forward to this year? Do you anticipate any difficulties in the upcoming year? What friends are you excited to see?
Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School
“Each child is different and transitions can be very easy for some children and very stressful and anxiety-provoking for others,” added Nydr. “The best way to help your child adjust is to communicate why the transition is happening and what it means for them — reminding them that you are there to support and help them is key to them feeling safe and secure.”
Your questions will vary depending on the personality and age of your child, but this will get them talking and thinking about school before the year begins.
Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School
Sometimes, children who are predisposed to anxiety are actually scared of change — encouraging them to get excited for the school year by talking with them about what’s coming up will help them get through the transition period.
“I work with students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 to help them navigate anything from daily life stress to learning coping skills for anxiety and depression,” said Nydr. “My goal is to hold a safe space for students that need time to reflect or process things within the busy-ness of daily life.
Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School
Nydr runs a plethora of groups and workshops to assist children throughout the school year. On top of the Art Club, Peer-Support Training and Study Skills for Exams, Nydr is adding even more to her repertoire this year. Students looking for advice or services for mental health can always rely on Nydr to provide or find the proper resources.
Parents with older students may find different challenges. Even though high school students have seen the transition into a new school year a few times, there is plenty that parents can do to support them each and every year. Communication is still key.
Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School
Ask them questions that gives them more control and gets them thinking more in the long term — teenagers seek independence after all. Ask them how you can help them with the transition and what their plans are for the upcoming or remaining years.
Depending on the school your child attends, there may be special programs or processes to help them feel more welcome every day. Keep your eyes peeled for any programs that may suit your child’s needs at any age.
Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School
“At Aberdeen Hall, our teachers are thoroughly prepared to greet their incoming students. Prior to the first day of school, they meet with their new students’ previous teachers to discuss the children’s individual strengths and opportunities and go over student files,” explained Susanne Raye, Junior School Principal for Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School. “They also send their students a personalized email or postcard prior to the start of the term which the children really enjoy getting.”
“Our small class sizes ensure our teachers really get to know their students and ‘homeroom’ time at the start and end of the day give teachers and students extra time to connect and build relationships,” added Raye.
Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School
We’ve all been there — school has unique challenges and is a significant time in everyone’s lives. For families that are currently going through the motions, what’s the take-away?
“Patience! Parents that are patient and willing to answer their child’s questions and reassure them will help them to feel grounded,” concluded Nydr. “Change is part of life at every stage; if you can help your child have a positive transition in their early years they are likely to be less anxious about changes as they occur in the future.”
Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School continuously works to create a safe and open environment for students to support their mental health, daily lives and provide a holistic education. For more details or if you have any questions, you can contact them here.
Aberdeen Hall is a non-profit, co-educational and non-denominational independent university prep school offering classes from Preschool to Grade 12. Aberdeen Hall fosters academic excellence in a progressive school environment which is safe and caring. Our school in Kelowna offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities and supports a strong sense of community. For more information, visit www.aberdeenhall.com.
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