
1. Shop with your child before school starts. Let them pick out a new outfit they feel confident in and get school supplies they are excited to start using. Your child wear school uniforms? No problem. Shop for a fun backpack and/or accessories such as headbands and socks.
2. Fun family picture. Place in your child’s backpack, folder or notebook as a reminder of all the people that are proud of them and are supporting them while they tackle that first day.
3. Remain calm yourself. Refrain from showing signs of your own anxiety. Children are often more perceptive then we realize. Act excited and consistently talk about how wonderful this day is going to be rather then that fact that you will miss your child.
4. Redirect negative thoughts. When your child talks about nervousness or worries about that first day back to school, respond with, “I understand those concerns but there are so many wonderful things to think about too. What are the top three things that you are most looking forward to?”
5. Walk and/or drive to school (or school bus stop) with a friend. Before the day starts, make sure your child has someone with them whom is experiencing the first day back as well. Kids show amazing resiliency if they feel they are not alone. If possible, have breakfast with a friend’s family before heading off to the school building to both have fun and alleviate some back to school jitters!