Supporting an Effective Back to School Transition

By Charlie Swan, Instructor

Back to school is around the corner, which means big transitions for your child. This can include getting up earlier, starting sports, managing a homework load, and acclimating to a brand new schedule. Learning to transition is an important executive function skill with which many children and adults struggle. 

Why can transitions feel so difficult? 

Although transitions may appear to just be a child moving from one task to another, it actually requires several executive function skills. These skills include flexibility, planning, time-management, impulse-control and emotional regulation. Managing all of these skills at one time can be challenging and overwhelming, especially when changing from a preferred activity. 

There are many unknowns around transitions, which may be fueling anxious feelings for your child. If your child does not know what is coming next, they may present with resistance to changing activities or returning to school. For instance, returning to school can bring up fears surrounding social situations, new teachers, and a new schedule.

How to Help

Below are several concrete strategies to help your child manage the back to school transition:

1. Acknowledge their feelings: It is important to talk through what your child is feeling. Whether it is big or small it is important to your child and they may be experiencing fears around a transition. When heading back to school, listen to their worries, questions and/or concerns. Be sure to validate their feelings and provide a safe space to share.
2. Preview: Sometimes, talking through what to expect can help lower the anxiety around the unknown. Heading back to school might be the perfect time to talk through their upcoming school year. What teacher do they have? What classes/subjects will they be studying? What is different about this year (versus last year)? If it would be helpful to your child, many schools allow students to come in individually or in small groups for a building tour and/or teacher meet-and-greet. For those averse to this idea, a “virtual tour” of the teacher’s website, school portals, etc. might be an alternate approach.
3. Map out a schedule:  Creating a schedule with set times and activities can help mitigate anxiety around a transition.  A consistent routine can create a sense of calmness and ownership. If your child is anxious about catching the bus and/or transitioning back to an earlier wake up time, consider mapping out a morning routine. If your child feels overwhelmed about managing homework and extracurricular activities, an afterschool schedule might be beneficial for mapping it all out.
4. Spend time getting organized:  Take the time to get organized before the beginning of the school year. This can include working with your child to set up an effective home workspace, buy school supplies, order textbooks, and get together any other necessities such as a planner. This could also include taking the time to create organizing systems online: help your child bookmark key websites (such as school portals), file away last year’s folders and declutter his/her inbox. Creating organized spaces and systems can lower a student’s stress levels so he/she feels prepared and ready rather than frazzled going into the school year.

Transitions can be difficult and many students can feel overwhelmed before the beginning of the school year. However, armed with these strategies, students can make a successful transition back to school!