What Kids REALLY Need For Back-To-School

Have you started the back-to-school shopping yet?

Every year the list seems to get longer. But have you ever stopped to wonder what your kids really need for a successful transition back to school?

(Hint: It’s not matching binders, 400 pencil crayons, and glitter glue.)

For all of you sending your littles off to school for the first time, listen to me: I swear it doesn’t matter if they know their ABCs or how to count.

I spend a lot of time around teachers and they have A LOT to say about this! 

Here’s what your kids really need to be successful at school:

Independence

I know they seem so small with that giant backpack on, but your little one needs to be able to handle some things on their own when you aren’t there. 

→ Clothing: Choose things they can take on and off easily. No tricky buckles and buttons - no matter how cute the outfit is! 

→ Lunches: Practice opening and closing containers. If they can’t manage a yogurt tube without help, choose something else instead.

→ Play Time: Make sure they know how to play by themselves. Teachers just don’t have time to be one-on-one with every kid. 

→ Potty Training: Unless there is a medical or developmental reason your child is still in diapers, it’s time to potty train them. Don’t waste time arguing; help them learn this skill.

Social Skills

This is the year all the Covid babies start kindergarten. But let’s do our best to send them to school with the important social skills!

→ Taking Turns: Kids have to be able to share and interact with others. Don’t just give your child what they want; take your turn and help them learn to wait a bit. 

→ Handling Disappointment: Your child won’t get their way all the time at school. Help them by letting them lose at games. Often. Don’t stop when they get mad; keep playing so that they learn it can still be fun.

→ Saying No: Kids are going to encounter lots of new situations.Teach them how to advocate for themselves. Role play saying, “No! Stop!” if someone is bothering them and how to walk away and get help.

Routine

I know you don’t want to think about this in the last weeks of summer, but children thrive on predictability and routine. It helps them feel safe when they know what’s coming next. 

→ Visual Schedules: Use pictures to represent your morning routine and help your child follow it by going back to see what’s next. Consider moving to school bed and wake times so their bodies can adjust.

→ Bedtime: Of course, there are exceptions, but most kids aren’t getting enough sleep. Which means they struggle to learn. Get a solid bedtime routine that gives them at least 10 hours of sleep - even if that means saying no to other things.

→ Decompress: Starting school - especially for the first time - is incredibly stressful! You’ll notice your child getting tired, grumpy, having meltdowns, and bursting into tears. All 100% normal. It helps if they know how to decompress. Maybe it’s a song you always listen to on the drive, or a show you watch cuddled up together. A weighted blanket, a favourite stuffy, or even a nap. 

Calm, Regulated Parents

The most important thing your child needs for back to school is for YOU to manage your emotions. 

→ How You Speak: Stop talking about how scary school is or how much you’ll miss them. Be positive and realistic. Let them hear you say things like, “School might feel really new, but Rose is friendly and brave and she’s tried so many new things this year! She’s going to do really well.”

→ No Crying: You DON’T cry until you’re out of their sight! Mamas, this is important. They don’t know your tears are from amazement and pride and wishing time would slow down. They just see you crying and it’s scary. Get your game face on.

→ Trust: You are going to feel afraid. That’s normal. But don’t let it rule you. You don’t need a tracking device. You don’t need to text the teacher five times. Trust the teachers. And trust  your child that they can do this. Do your job, prepare them, and let them spread their wings. 

Want some tips to help kids develop these skills? 

Follow me on Instagram! I’ll be exploring a full Kindergarten checklist for the rest of this month.

Or book a discovery call. I’ve been through this back-to-school season and I know how hard it can be. I’d love to help you set your kids up for success!