At DINO BARS, we are always looking for ways to make parenting a little easier. Since schools will be opening soon, whether at home or on campus, back to school transition can be a source of dread for parents and children. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We put together a few tips and tricks to make the process a whole lot easier. Do you know what the crazy thing is? Everything listed is doable.
Ever since the pandemic struck, children and adults have been through a whirlwind of changes. Parents have suddenly turned into work at home chaperones. They spend their days juggling work, chores, and their child’s classes/school work. The fact that they manage all this is pretty amazing.
Even though every family and child is unique, we all wish that just this once someone would give us a handbook on how to “parent”. Keeping that in mind, we came up with tips and tactics that could get the job done and save your sanity.
How are Children Handling Staying at Home?
We, adults, are able to show our feelings and frustrations more easily. Children, on the other hand, have a harder time accepting things (especially quarantine). They usually don’t know how to share their feelings. Often they end up displaying them in other forms such as acting out, becoming quiet, getting clingy, etc. Keeping all of this in mind, back to school transition can seem like an impossible thing to conquer, but that world itself says ” I am possible”.
Any behavior that may seem out of the norm for your child could be his/her way of reacting to the present circumstances.
Parenting Hacks to Help Back to School Transition:
We’re just going to break this one to you, it won’t be as easy for young ones to transition back to normal life as it will be for adults. Your child has created a world of his own and hasn’t given any thought to the fact he/she will eventually have to go to school again. Children have their own perceptions and expectations of how things should be. They get way more disappointed when they don’t turn out a specific way.
It may seem overwhelming to parents when they think about how they’re going to get their children back into a routine. After all, we’ve gotten accustomed to the routines we’ve been practicing for the last six months. But don’t dwell in that terror just yet! Read on to find out how you can tweak a few things here and there to avoid the ugly.
Talk to Your Child About Back to school Transition:
Nothing beats a good heart to heart. That applies to all ages. Discuss what expectations you have from your child’s school once it reopens. Ask your child what their expectations are and how they think their daily routine will change once life goes back to normal. Ask them their feelings about going back to school. What they feel excited (such as meeting friends, lunchtime, recess, art class, etc) about, and what they feel uncomfortable or not so happy about.
Going back to school can be a potential source of anxiety for some children. The reasons could range from separation anxiety, previous bullying to having to follow more structure, and so on. Work on solutions that could make the things they are worried about a little less concerning.
If you are concerned about your child’s coping abilities or mental health consult with their pediatrician.
Start With Smooth Mornings:
No one wants to deal with a grumpy child in the morning. Parents know that just one tantrum/meltdown can easily turn the whole happy go lucky morning vibe into dread and despair.
To avoid this, offer choices. Children tend to feel more accepting of hard tasks when they are provided with the power of making their own small decisions. This leads to them being a little less thrown off about the bigger things. (Like having to go to school).
Offer choices in what breakfast they would like on school mornings. If they want to help pack their lunch for the next day. (Not to mention what DINO BARS flavor they want in their lunchbox). Getting to pick out their outfit the night before saves time and is a great way to help them slide into acceptance. It could also get them more excited about showing off that they make their own decisions to peers and teachers.
Family Time:
One of the most important things that your child will expect or wait around for the whole day is quality time with his/her family members. Pandemic or not, giving your child uninterrupted individual attention has a major effect on their personality building. Ensure your child that his/her needs will always be your priority.
Pick a time of the day in which the whole family sits together and spends quality time. You could spend this time doing things the whole family enjoys together. Let your child pick out a game/movie/book they would like to play, watch, or read with the whole family. These activities can vary according to your child’s age, interests, and the number of children in your family.
Keep Your Cool:
Children can sense when their parents/ primary caregivers are mad. Managing to keep yourself calm and not snapping back immediately is crucial in keeping things under control. Staying calm even when your child displays intense reactions to things relating to going back to school is key.
This won’t just help your child calm back down, but, it will also aid in keeping your head clear so you can work towards getting them back on track. Put yourself in your child’s shoes and try to understand how it may be really hard for them to manage their emotions. Relate with them so they realize that they aren’t alone and everything will be just fine. A little grace goes a long way.
Even though you practice all this advice, things can still go wayward as they tend to when it comes to children. Patience and perseverance are as vital here as they are in all aspects of life. Believe in your child/children and they will surprise you in ways you never imagined. ( Who knows? Maybe back to school transition wont be so bad!)
Let us know what works for you and your family in the comments, or email us here. Don’t forget to subscribe to our Facebook and Instagram pages!
