How To Adjust To The New School Year
By: Elizabeth Koblenz, LMSW
As we approach the upcoming school year and enjoy the last licks of summer, it is important to discuss the “elephant in the room” that no one wants to talk about. For those who have a school aged child in the home, the uncertainty of what lies ahead can feel quite daunting. This is undeniably a challenging time for all of us in one way or another. We want to protect our children but we also don’t want them to miss any important milestones in their lives. As we navigate through understanding how we cannot control the unknowns, it is vital to create a new sense of normalcy to help your child, as well as the family as a whole, succeed in managing the new school year. Here are some tips that will help in adjusting to the new school year and to help create a new norm:
1) Organization:
As the summer comes to a close, it is important to use this time to organize your home. A productive work space where your child can “get in the zone” is a necessity if they will be continuing to learn from home. It can be difficult for children to learn at home, however, a practical workspace free of distractions will help ease the challenge. Have an extra desk you haven’t used in years? Utilize some help from your child and ask them how they would like to organize and set up their work space. Create an environment that they will look forward to working at every day!
2) Schedule:
Before the pandemic, it is likely that our schedules were crazy during the school year. Even though this year may bring about a different schedule, a concrete plan is essential. Try to map out your child’s new virtual learning schedule and have your child understand what their day and week ahead will look like. Now is a time to utilize some creativity! Use different colors to represent school, extracurricular activities, and miscellaneous events. If you want to take it a step further, you can even use velcro for each activity and allow the flexibility to move activities around each day or week. Have your child create a plan of action every day that will keep them motivated. Always remember that adding a few breaks throughout the day is a-okay!
3) Talk expectations:
Facilitate a conversation with your child about this new norm. Chances are they are likely worried, anxious, and scared of the unknown. It may be helpful for them to understand what their schedule will look like. Because schedules will be different than in the past, it’s okay to let your child know what your expectations are about time doing school work, communicating with friends, or taking breaks. Just because they are not in school, that does not mean expectations vanish! Boundaries are important in helping your child feel secure and safe in their new schedule.
4) Give yourself time to adjust:
Remember, this is not only a new norm for your child, but it is also a new norm for you, as well. Try to not stress too much and take each day as it comes. It is important to remember that we cannot control everything and to channel that energy into focusing on the things we can control. Use some of the methods above for yourself! Create a schedule that includes getting ready for school, exercising, doing work, baking, or watching a television show you haven’t had the time for. This new norm is not permanent and you may be surprised with how many positives come out of this time – more time with family and friends, less running around, and time to just relax. We are all in this together so give yourself some time to adjust!
To learn more about how to tailor a back to school plan specifically to you, or to hear more about how to adjust to the new school year, feel free to reach out to Elizabeth today. She can be contacted at Elizabeth@UpsiderTherapy.com.