New teachers, classmates, routines and expectations -- a new school year almost always means change for both kids and their caregivers. And that can be nerve-wracking for everyone. To help families ease into the transition, Life Kit asked teachers, pediatricians and child development experts for their best back-to-school advice.
These tips have been edited for length and clarity. 😴 Adjust your child's summer sleep schedule to a school schedule . At least one or two weeks before school starts, move bedtime and wake-up time up by 15-minute increments every few days until the desired schedule is reached.
— Dr. Nilong Vyas , pediatrician and sleep consultant 📚 Gradually reintroduce structure into a child’s daily routine to help them prepare for school. Add a 15-minute block of educational content to your kid’s routine, such as a read-aloud, math puzzle or science experiment .
— Keisha Siriboe , early childhood literacy consultant 🗯 Remind kids that almost everyone feels a little nervous on the first day of school. Naming and describing an emotion and letting children know you understand how they feel can help them feel more in control over their feelings instead of feeling overwhelmed by them. — Leah Orchinik , pediatric psychologist 🗓 To ease a child’s anxiety about going back to school, help them understand what to expect.
As Daniel Tiger sings, “When we do something new, let’s talk about what we’ll do.” Remind them that “grown-ups come back”.
