By Carol Miller
The end of summer may come too quickly for many. Whether you had the opportunity to sleep in and experience many lazy summer days, or your weeks flew by with a bustle of non-stop activities, beginning school may seem overwhelming for children, parents and educators.
Children may feel excited to see friends while also worrying about a new teacher and new classroom routines, harder schoolwork, or perhaps, most importantly, who will they sit with at lunch. Parents and caregivers may be thinking about earlier bedtimes, busy mornings, transportation, homework, and packed schedules. Educators may be preparing classrooms, reviewing new curriculums, and wondering how they will fit everything into the day.
Here’s what I know. Two opposite things can be equally true. You can be excited and worried at the same time.
Rather than expecting everyone to move instantly from summer mode into a full school routine, here are some suggestions that can make the transition a little gentler.
Expect Mixed Feelings
Not every child will be excited to go back to school, and not every adult will feel completely ready.
A child may be eager one moment and anxious the next. An educator may love working with students and still feel tired when thinking about the demands ahead. Parents may welcome the return of routine while also dreading rushed mornings.
These mixed feelings are normal but acknowledging them can be more helpful than trying to talk someone out of them. As an adult we might say, “It makes sense that you are feeling nervous,” or “Starting a new routine can feel hard at first.” Children often need reassurance that they do not have to feel perfectly confident before school begins. And sometimes, it is us that needs that reassurance too. “It’s hard. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable, but I’ve got this.”
Rebuild Routines Gradually
One way to help with the back-to-school blues is rebuilding routines gradually. Summer often changes sleep schedules, mealtimes, screen habits, and daily expectations. Trying to reset everything the night before school starts can create even more stress. A gradual shift may help. Begin moving bedtimes earlier, practice morning routines, prepare clothes and supplies, or review transportation and after-school activity plans. For educators, focus on preparing what is needed for the first few days instead of trying to plan the entire year at once.
Simple routines create predictability, and predictability can help both children and adults feel safer and more prepared.
Focus on the Next Step
Thinking about the entire school year can feel overwhelming. Instead, focus on what comes next.
For a child, the next step may be packing a backpack or learning the teacher’s name. For a family, it may be completing a form or meal prepping for the week. For an educator, it may be preparing a welcoming activity or establishing one important classroom routine.
Not everything has to be finished before the first day. Not every bulletin board needs to be hung, not every pencil sharpened, and not every lesson plan book needs to look like a perfect photo someone just shared on Instagram. Some decisions can wait until the year begins and everyone has had time to adjust.
Protect Time to Reconnect
The beginning of the year can start like an explosion with no turning back. Calendars can fill up with practices, meetings, homework, appointments, and responsibilities. With everything going on and sometimes multiples things happening at once, it’s important to also protect time to connect with the ones that mean most to you.
Families might share a meal, take an evening walk, or ask one simple question about the day. Educators can greet students by name, create low-pressure check-ins, and give students opportunities to share how they are feeling. Children are more likely to manage change when they know there are adults who will listen, notice, and help.
Leave Room for Rest
Rest is not a reward for getting everything done. It’s a necesatity for us to learn, grow, stay healthy and be our best selves. The first weeks of school are tiring. Everyone is adjusting to longer days, increased expectations, noise, transitions, and social demands. So, whenever possible, keep evenings simple. Avoid overscheduling the first few weeks. Build in time for rest, familiar activities, and calm routines.
Let the Year Unfold
The first day does not determine the entire school year. A difficult morning does not mean every morning will be difficult. A child who feels anxious may become more comfortable once routines are familiar. A family may need time to find a schedule that works. An educator may need to revise a plan after getting to know the students.
There will be time to adjust, solve problems, and try again. Returning to school is not a switch that flips overnight. It is a process of finding a new rhythm together.
We do not have to begin with perfect routines, endless enthusiasm, or complete confidence. We simply need to take the next step, offer one another patience, and remember that settling in takes time.
Sometimes, a gentle beginning is the best way to start.