Preparing for a Successful Start to the School Year

The start of a new school year is an exciting time filled with promise and potential. As a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your child navigate this transition smoothly. Here are some tips to set your child up for success this school year:

Establish Routines and Expectations

• Hold a Family Meeting: Gather everyone to discuss the upcoming school year. This open dialogue fosters understanding and cooperation. Discuss the changes that will occur, such as earlier bedtimes, new school schedules, and any activities.
• Communicate Clear Expectations: Let your child know what you expect in terms of behavior, schoolwork, and chores. Remember, clear expectations reduce misunderstandings. Be specific about what you expect, such as completing homework without reminders or helping with specific household chores.
• Re-establish Routines: Gradually reinstate bedtime, mealtime, and morning routines to help your child adjust to the school schedule. Consistency is key. Aim for consistent bedtimes at least a week before school starts. Consistent sleep schedules are essential for cognitive function and emotional regulation.
• Limit Screen Time: Establish screen time limits to ensure sufficient sleep and focus, as well as to encourage alternative acitivites such as reading, playing outdoors. or spending time with friends and family. Designate areas like bedrooms and dining tables as screen-free zones to encourage face-to-face interaction. 
• Define a Launch Pad: Create a designated area for school essentials like backpacks, shoes, and lunchboxes to streamline morning routines. This will help prevent last-minute rushes and reduce morning stress.

Organize and Plan

• Create a Family Calendar: Use a shared calendar to keep track of school events, appointments, and activities. Color coding can make it easier to visualize everyone's schedule. Involve your child in adding their school events to the calendar to promote ownership.
• Set a Reasonable Schedule. Seek balance in your child's life. Allocate time for schoolwork, extracurricular activities, hobbies, and relaxation. Build in flexiblility with some buffer time for unexpected events.
• Create a Learning Space: Identify a quiet study space free from distractions. Provide necessary supplies like pencils, paper, and books.
• Develop Organizational Systems: Designate specific spots for school papers and create filing systems to manage paperwork efficiently. Consider using labeled bins or folders for different subjects.
• Provide Essential Information: Give your child a list of important details, such as bus numbers or locker combinations, to boost confidence. Review this information together to ensure understanding.

Foster a Positive Mindset

• Open Communication: Talk to your child about his or her feelings about the new school year. Encourage your child to share about anxieties or excitement. Active listening shows your support and helps your child feel heard.
• Model Positive Behavior: Show enthusiasm for the new school year. Your positive attitude can rub off on your child. Express excitement about new teachers, subjects, and opportunities.
• Be Supportive: Offer your time and attention before and after school. Listen to your child's experiences and provide encouragement. Create a dedicated time for "school talk" to show you value this communication.

Get Involved

• Attend Back-to-School Events: Meet teachers, learn about school programs, and show your support for your child's education. Take advantage of opportunities to connect with other parents.
• Encourage Participation in Extracurricular Activities: Participation in school activities can boost self-esteem and help your child make friends. Explore a variety of options to find interests that align with your child's passions.
• Celebrate Milestones: Mark the end of the first week or month with a special family activity to acknowledge your child's accomplishments. Keep this going throughout the year with any small or large improvement or success you wish to acknowledge. These celebrations create positive associations with school.

Empower Your Child

• Involve Your Child in Decision Making: Allow your child to choose his or her backpack, lunchbox, or school supplies to increase ownership. Allow your child to have a say in the daily schedule. This helps them feel invested in their school experience.
• Practice Time Management: Help an older child develop time management skills by creating study schedules or using planners. Break down larger assignments into smaller, manageable tasks.
• Manage Back-to-School Anxiety: While a new school year brings many feelings of excitement, it often brings along feelings of worry as well. Learn some tips for helping your child overcome this back-to-school anxiety with this Healthy Minds News article from last year.

Seek Help When Needed

• Seek Out Support: Do not hesitate to reach out to teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, or other school staff for advice or support. Building a support network at school can provide valuable resources and guidance.

Healthy Minds News shares information related to youth mental health and wellness for an audience of parent, educators and community-based providers. Articles include tips and strategies for increasing wellness and resiliency, as well as fostering success at home, at school and in the community. This is a collaborative project between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Prevention Unit of the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. It is part of the Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, designed to support emotional wellness in youth and families.

If you or someone you care about is in crisis or needs help, TAKE ACTION! 

• Call or text 988 the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• Contact Fairfax County CSB Emergency/Crisis Services (703) 573-5679 
• Contact CSB for outpatient Walk-in assessments, please call ahead (703) 383-8500
• Go to the nearest emergency room 
• Contact Children’s Regional Crisis Response (CR2) (571) 364-7390
• Call 911