We hope you are enjoying this last stretch of summer! As the school year begins next week, we wanted to suggest ways you can help your child (and yourself!) prepare for the transition back to school.
Encourage Mealtime Independence
Food preparation and meals are important parts of our daily lives. At school, children will be involved with preparing food, setting the tables, pouring water, and cleaning up after themselves.
We recommend incorporating this at home. Children can be part of preparing the table and then clearing the dirty dishes after the meal. We recommend having a clear routine for cleaning up, which can include putting dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher after eating. We also encourage the use of regular cups and glasses for meals and snacks. Younger children can be encouraged to use silverware to feed themselves. Model and practice good table manners by eating family style meals sitting at the table together.
Older children can be involved with setting the menu for meals and helping with grocery shopping. They can start to map out what they want to pack for lunch and be part of the process of getting their food ready in containers and everything into their lunch box. This also helps children have ownership and buy-in about what they are eating.
We also recommend that your child have food containers that are easy to open and close. Going to the store and having your child try opening different kinds of containers is a great way to find some that work well!
And those of you with children entering 7th grade get ready to hear about the best meals ever instead of packing lunches because our 7th-9th grades meal plan, shop, prep, and cook their meals daily.
Think About What to Wear
Because younger children are becoming independent with their dressing and undressing, it helps for them to practice these skills at home. Even young toddlers are capable of doing quite a lot of taking off and putting on different items, and they love to do things for themselves. We recommend giving your child the time and encouragement to do things for themselves, including taking shoes off, pulling pants up, unzipping jackets, and so on. Choosing clothing and shoes that are easy for your child to put on and take off is a big help for the transition to school.
Older children can gather their belongings to make sure they have everything ready for the first day of school (and every subsequent day!). They can check the weather to determine appropriate outerwear and shoes, practice setting out their clothes the night before, and prep items needed for after-school activities.
Prepare a Goodbye Routine
To be ready for the first days of school, we recommend preparing your child (and yourself) for what drop-off will look and feel like. It can be helpful to drive by the school and casually notice with your child(ren) where drop-off will happen. As adults, the more clear we are about the routine, the more secure our children will feel. New parents, don’t worry, you’ll be given a few tips during your Meet-Your-
Teacher appointment.
Short and sweet transitions are key. The longer we linger the harder it is for our children to recalibrate and settle into the classroom. To that end, figure out your goodbye process ahead of time. Perhaps it is one hug plus a double wave goodbye. Whatever you decide, stick with it. Our children are hard-wired to test our limits and they will want to figure out if they can negotiate two hugs and a long squeeze goodbye then more hugs and kisses. Ms. Rivera and Ms. Lingo will be there to help at the main door!
To help ensure the goodbye plan is a success, practice! While at home and when everyone is in a great mood, suggest a game of pretending you are doing drop-off at school. Remember (or create) the goodbye routine and then act it out together! Take turns being the adult and the child (children love getting to be the adult). Playacting is a fun way to work through what can be a stressful few moments.
By establishing clear and firm routines, we help our children develop trust and confidence. If we feel hesitant or unsure, our children absorb those feelings. So we want to exude assuredness! Parents can call the office later to check in if necessary.
Adjust Schedules
If our children have been staying up later during the long days of summer, it helps to gradually shift bedtimes and establish a consistent routine. Rushed mornings tend to be more difficult, so putting additional effort into getting enough sleep can really help the transition back to school.
Although earlier mornings can be tough, children do so much better when they can get to school with enough time to settle in. Please avoid being even 5 minutes late. We recommend trying to come on the early side of the arrival window. Coming late can mean that they miss out on the social, emotional, and academic benefits of the day.
Check-In
As always, please let us know if you need anything or have any questions. It’s our teachers’ standard to prioritize your children’s day but they have time to get back to you after 3:00. After morning drop-off, you can call or email the office if you want to check-in. We are happy to help get your day off to a better start too!
If you are curious to see more about how we support, model, and guide children, schedule a visit! Prospective families can schedule tours. Current families can schedule observations beginning in October and we have parent nights too! We can’t wait to share what your children are doing here with you through our events and on social media.
