It's time; the days are getting shorter, and Labour Day is looming. Of course, they don't want to go back to school. So parenting expert Catherine Wakelin is teaching us how to ease the transition from camp to class.
My kids have become so used to having summer freedom; I think getting them back into school mode is going to be a nightmare. Any tips on easing the transition?
Typically, children experience three major categories of change when the school year starts.
The Return to School: Just the thought of heading back-to-school can stress out many kids. Talk to your kids about what they are looking forward to and what they are dreading. As school approaches, focus on the things that your child is looking forward to and ask your child what might make the rest a little easier. This is also a good time to come to an agreement about homework habits to reduce conflict once school starts.
The Return to a Schedule: Start gradually adjusting wake-up times and bedtimes two weeks before school begins. This can be a big change for some children. Buy your children their own alarm clocks and move the wake-up time forward each night by a few minutes together. Talk about what bedtime will be once school starts. If your children start negotiating, agree that they will be in bed at your chosen time but can read for 15 minutes before lights out.
The Return to Rules: The start of school often brings a return to rules that kids can find frustrating. You may restrict TV time during the school week, put limits on computer and video games, have a cut-off time for incoming phone calls or insist on a certain amount of practice time for after-school lessons. Whatever your rules are, discuss them ahead of time and let your children know when and why the rules are changing.
The key to a smooth transition is to start talking to your kids about the upcoming changes early and often, giving them some input into how best to address any concerns they may have. The earlier you start, the easier it will be.
Catherine Wakelin is a professional facilitator, speaker and mother of 12-year-old twins. Learn more about her new book Talk about Anything with Your Kids - An Easy Guide to Great Conversations and sign-up for free Parenting Tips at www.talkaboutanything.ca.
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