Summer is winding down, and it’s that time of year when “Back to School” is on the minds of parents and children. For children transitioning to the middle school, the elementary-school like excitement that your child once exhibited may be replaced with a sense of foreboding and worry. Your child may wonder how they are going to manage the academic and social pressures, but oftentimes their most basic worries concern getting their locker open, finding their classes, and knowing with whom they are going to sit at lunch.
There are a few things you can do as a parent/guardian to ease the transition to middle school and assuage some of your child’s fears. First, find out if the school is having some type of open house or orientation program and be sure to attend. An orientation program helps your child (and you) develop an understanding of what to expect in terms of the layout of the school, clubs and activities, and the culture of the school. An open house if often held about a week before school starts. If students are given their schedules, it is a way for them to do a “dry run” of their schedules and even practice opening their lockers prior to the official start of school. If your school doesn’t offer an open house and your child is nervous about learning to use his/her locker, you can purchase a combination lock to teach your child the basic concept in order to build his/her confidence.
Another way to prepare your child for school is with the supply list. Many schools will post one online or mail one out to parents. The student should be an integral part of the decision-making process for purchasing supplies. Would he/she like to use an accordion file to organize papers or would a binder be better? Remember that a system that you use to organize yourself may not be the one that your child selects. That’s okay. Keep an open mind and allow your child to try a system that works for him/her. If you make all of the decisions, your child is less likely to feel empowered and have a sense of ownership in the process.
Lastly, summer lends itself to sleeping late and going with the flow. The school schedule is quite the opposite. It can be quite a shock to your child’s system to suddenly have to wake up early and eat lunch at a time that is several hours from the time he/she normally eats. About three-five days before the first day of school, it is a good idea to set the alarm and wake your child up at the school time and have him/her go to sleep at the school bedtime. That first day of school is emotionally draining for many children, and preparing physically by adjusting one’s sleep patterns is critical.
Students can worry about many different things, and while these are just a few things you can do to help, the most important thing you can do for your child is to listen to them. Don’t jump in to solve every worry, but actively work together to find ways to soothe their worries and help empower them to be part of the solution. It may be helpful for your child to know that everyone worries a little on the first day of school (even the teachers!), and the most important thing they should wear on the first day to school is a smile. People are looking for a friendly face, and if they just smile and be themselves, they are already ahead of the game.