Getting back into the school routine
Posted Aug 26, 2016 7:44 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
For a lot of Calgary kids, back to school is fast approaching.
Some head back next week, while others will hear the morning bell after Labour Day, and getting back into the groove can mean more than just buying some new notebooks and pencils.
Barb Veder is a VP at Morneau Shepell, which offers support programs for families.
She says kids and parents can face some big anxieties about the new school year.
“Changing routine, shifting from the summer schedule to the fall schedule, the uncertainty around a new school, potentially, new teacher, new friends,” Veder said.
She suggests rehearsing bed time.
“Start to shift into going to sleep earlier, getting up earlier, preparing and thinking about lunches,” she said.
It’s also important to think about last year – what worked and what didn’t.
Kids need to know it’s okay to worry a bit when you’re facing a new situation, but parents have to help build strategies.
“Change can be difficult but change can be fun,” Veder said. “Take the bus a few times together. Think about a friend who knows the school a little better, an older child in the neighbourhood or a relative.”
However, if they’re having trouble sleeping or are experiencing repeated worries, it might be good to talk to a counselor.
“Parents are also juggling at this time of year. They’re trying to get back into their fall routine. I think it’s important for the family to think: how do we check in?” she said.
