Proven Tips for Starting

the New School Year

1) Pull out last year’s class photo and go through all the classmates and names to remind your child about the school community. Highlight the children that will be in your child’s class this year.  

2) Make contact with your child’s teacher if possible. Some schools offer home or zoom visits to younger children, but if not, you and your child can craft a quick email to their new teacher. Include a few questions that your child may have or have them share something about themselves. Make sure to read the teachers response together.

3) Take a trip past the school if you haven’t been there all summer. Play on the playground, walk to the entrance, or meet a classmate there. This brings school back into your child’s thoughts in a concrete way and gives them a multi-sensory reminder of the school.

4) If your child has an IEP, learning or social sensitivities or any vulnerabilities, it is very important to contact the teacher directly to discuss accommodations and needs before the school year starts. It is helpful to share any reports and evaluations directly with the teacher when possible. Unfortunately, these things can get disorganized from year to year and important information about your child is not always communicated to the new teacher. Making sure that the new teacher has all the necessary information sets everyone up for success.

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5) Start shifting bedtime back to the school schedule gradually. Summer is a beautiful time to loosen routines and bedtime is often more flexible. If your child has been going to sleep later, try shifting the time back, a few minutes each night for a week or two before school so that your child is back to the optimal bedtime for the first day of school.

6) Practice your morning routine a few times before school starts. Lay out clothes, wake up at the school daytime and remind your child of what they need to do to get ready for the day.  

7) Make playdates with children in your child’s new class.  

8) Share stories about when you were your child’s age and talk about the big feelings that you had about starting the school year.  Children love to hear about when their parents were younger and sharing feelings can be very validating.  

9) Stock up on comfortable clothes. Many children have sensitive bodies and can’t tolerate a wide range of clothing. Find the socks, waistlines and shoes that feel good on your child and have multiple pieces of these clothes. Comfort is key to feeling confident and being successful. You can try to vary clothing options once your child is settled into school.

10) Talk about what will be the same. The new school year is riddled with unfamiliar things, and it is helpful to balance out the novelty and unknown by talking about what will be the same- “We will still eat cheerios and apples for breakfast. The bus comes to the same corner. Grandma will pick you up just like last year.”