7 Top Tips to Help Families at Back-to-School Time

Posted On Tuesday August 27, 2019

Returning to school can be an anxious time for some students as they get ready to meet new friends, get acquainted with a new teacher, new routines and possibly a new school. Here are some tips that can help ease the transition to a new school year. 

  1. Start preparing your kids for school at least a week before. For example, practice the route to school, and get them back into a school-time sleeping schedule.
  2. Prepare a “Must Know” list for the school and teacher. The list will provide important information for the school staff, such as allergies, illnesses, physical limitations, or any necessary accommodations that might need to be made.
  3. Watch for possible signs of stress, such as altered sleep, headaches and/or stomach pains, a lack of appetite (or eating more than usual), anxiety, or poor concentration – both before school starts and for several weeks after schools begins.
  4. Don’t forget to ask your kids if they have any worries about the new school year, then follow up on their concerns, provide information, reassurance and problem-solving help, as needed.
  5. Be careful not to overload your child with too many activities outside of school. Sometimes the best cure for stress is just to have some quiet time.
  6. Monitor and manage your own stress level so that it does not create more anxiety for them and so they can pick up some good stress management techniques from you too!
  7. Finally, be positive about school with your children and help them feel it’s a good experience.

Courtesy of the Psychology Foundation of Canada psychologyfoundation.org 

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) is responsible for public education in the rural settings of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog Townships and the urban settings of Ajax, Whitby, Pickering and Oshawa. The DDSB employs 7,600 teaching and educational services staff. With 132 elementary and secondary schools and learning centres, the DDSB accommodates more than 70,000 regular day students and thousands more who take advantage of a wide variety of continuing education and adult credit courses. More information can be found on the DDSB’s website at www.ddsb.ca. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @DurhamDSB and YouTube at DurhamDSB.

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