Back-to-School Tips to Help Your Child Adjust to the New School Year
The school year is underway, and for many children, the transition is still happening. Even after the first few days, it can take time to get comfortable with a new classroom, schedule, teacher, classmates, and daily expectations.
The good news is that there are still plenty of simple ways to support your child as they settle into the school routine. Small changes at home, added predictability, and opportunities to talk about the school day can help children feel more prepared and comfortable as the year gets going.
Keep Bedtime and Wake-Up Routines Consistent
Even though school has already started, consistent bedtime and wake-up routines can still make a meaningful difference.
Try to keep these times as predictable as possible during the school week. A visual schedule can also help your child understand what comes next in the morning or before bed. This might include getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, packing a backpack, or getting ready to leave.
Repeating the same routine each day can help the school week begin to feel more familiar.
Adjust Mealtimes to Match the School Day
Your child may still be getting used to eating breakfast, lunch, or snacks at different times than they did during the summer.
When possible, try to keep mealtimes at home somewhat similar to the school-day schedule. This can help your child’s appetite adjust and may make it easier for them to eat when meals and snacks are offered at school.
Help School Feel More Familiar
If your child is still getting comfortable with the school environment, additional familiarity may help.
If the school offers opportunities for families to visit, consider taking advantage of them. If your child feels overwhelmed at a busy meet and greet or open house, you can also reach out to the school to see whether a quieter or individual visit might be possible.
Seeing the classroom, teacher, or school space again can sometimes make the environment feel less unfamiliar.
Keep the Conversation Going
Now that your child has experienced the school day, they may have a better sense of what they enjoy, what feels challenging, and what they are still unsure about.
Create open opportunities to talk about how school is going. You might ask what they liked that day, what made them laugh, what felt difficult, or what they are looking forward to tomorrow.
Some children may not want to talk right after school, especially if they need time to decompress. Bringing up the conversation later in the evening may feel easier.
Use a Calendar or Weekly Visual
A calendar visual can help children understand what their week looks like and when school days, weekends, activities, and other events will happen.
Seeing the schedule laid out can make the week feel more predictable and help children understand what is coming next.
You can also use simple visuals for parts of the day, such as “first school, then home” or “first school, then playtime.”
Read Books About School
Books about starting school can still be helpful even after the first day has passed. Now that your child has their own school experiences, they may be able to connect with the characters and situations in a new way.
A few books to consider include:
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
- Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
- David Goes to School by David Shannon
- Since We’re Friends by Celeste Shally
As you read together, talk about what the characters are feeling and whether anything in the story reminds your child of their own school day.
Create a Social Story About the School Day
For children who benefit from knowing what to expect, a social story can be a helpful way to walk through the school-day routine.
The story might include arriving at school, saying goodbye, entering the classroom, participating in activities, eating lunch, going to recess, and coming home.
If possible, include photos of the actual school, classroom, teacher, bus, or other familiar parts of the day.
Share Helpful Information With the School Team
As the first few weeks unfold, you may begin to notice things that would be helpful for your child’s teacher or school team to know.
If your child has specific likes, dislikes, sensory needs, communication preferences, calming strategies, or other important information, consider creating a simple “Get to Know [Child’s Name]” page or binder.
This can give the school team a quick reference for understanding what helps your child feel comfortable, engaged, and supported.
Help Build Familiar Friendships
If you now know which classmates your child enjoys spending time with, consider arranging a get together outside of school.
Spending time with a classmate in a more relaxed setting can help strengthen that connection and may make your child feel more comfortable when they return to school.
Give Them Something to Look Forward To After School
For some children, knowing what comes after school can make a long or challenging day feel a little easier.
Talk about something simple they can look forward to when they get home, such as a favorite snack, playtime, quiet time, an activity, or time with family.
A visual reminder can also help show your child that the school day has a clear ending and that something familiar comes next.
Give the Transition Time
Adjusting to a new school year does not always happen in the first few days. Some children settle in quickly, while others need more time, repetition, and predictability.
Continuing to build routines, use visuals, talk about the school day, and create positive connections can help your child become more comfortable as the school year continues.
Supporting a Smooth Start to the School Year
The start of a new school year can take time to feel comfortable, and every child adjusts at their own pace. Continuing to build consistent routines, offer reassurance, use visuals, and create opportunities for connection can help make the school day feel more familiar as the weeks go on. Even small changes at home can support your child as they settle into the school year and gain confidence in their new routine.
Wishing your family a happy, successful, and smooth school year ahead!
