Navigating Back to School: Preparing for a New School Year

As counselors committed to your child’s well-being, we understand the excitement and challenges that come with a new school year. This 4 part blog series aims to offer valuable insights and practical tools to help both students and parents navigate the transition back to school while prioritizing mental health. 

In this first part, we’ll focus on preparing for the new school year and creating a positive foundation for mental well-being.

Establishing Routine and Expectations: Starting the day with a predictable routine can help alleviate anxiety and create a sense of stability. Sit down with your child to outline a daily schedule that balances study time, leisure, physical activity, and rest. There can even be a  morning routine, with a consistent time to wake, and structure around morning nutrition and personal hygiene. Allow enough time to avoid the morning rush. This also calls for a consistent bedtime, which in turn helps the morning get off to a better start. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours per 24 hours and teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours. 

Open Communication: Encourage open dialogue with your child about their feelings and concerns regarding the upcoming school year. Create an environment where they feel safe discussing their worries, whether it’s about academics, friendships, or personal challenges. It can be helpful to have a set time each day or undistracted check in time with your child. This can be built in as a part of the daily routine.