Making the transition from the lazy days of summer into the scheduled days of school is not always easy, and usually requires a little preparation. Every child responds differently to starting school, so here are some tips on how to easy them into the transition.

Making new friends
Making new friends can be a breeze for some children, and cause anxiety for others. Try sharing experiences with your child about times when you didn’t know anyone and had to make new friends. Tell them how this experience made you feel, how you made new friends and how you felt afterwards.

Meet the new teacher before school begins
Always take advantage of your school’s “meet the teacher night”. If you missed it this year, no problem, you can simply schedule a meeting with the teacher. This is good for you to share any concerns that you or your child may have and to will ease your child into the transition and feel more comfortable around their teacher.

Be prepared with supplies
It’s great to show up on the first day fully prepared and not having to worry about borrowing a pencil or piece of paper. It’s also great to be prepared at home. Set aside a study area for your child that is stocked with supplies to make their transition from the classroom to the “home office” easier.

Take a tour of the school
Nothing is worse than getting lost during your first week of school. Most schools allow you to tour the building the week prior to school and you should make sure to locate bathrooms, the cafeteria, nurses’ office and most importantly, all of your child’s classrooms. This tour will make them more prepared and feeling confident on their first day.

Discuss the importance of learning and earning good grades
Once you get past the anxiety of making new friends and being in a new school, be sure to discuss academics. It’s always a good idea for parents to sit down with their child and discuss their expectations for the school year, both on academics and behavior. Then, ask your child what their expectations are and create some goals together.

Will you buy lunch or bring lunch?
This is a good topic to discuss with your child. If they are going to bring their lunch, you may want to take them to the store with you to pick out things they like. If they are going to buy lunch, how much will you give them? Will it be on a daily or weekly basis? And what happens if they spend it all before the end of the week?

Back to school clothes
In order to avoid any negative shopping experiences, talk with your child about what you are willing to purchase before you enter the store. I recommend sticking to the essentials – shoes, jeans, jacket, t-shirts, pullovers – and then allow them to buy some trendy pieces at the end. This will save you money and not fill their closet with clothes that won’t be “cool” for longer than a couple months.

Scheduling
If this is the first time your child will be away from home all day, it’s a good idea to give them a run-down of how the day will go. Let them know when you will pick them up or when you will see them again. If your child is worried about switching classes and not missing the bell, you can practice the walk between rooms during your school tour.

Transportation to and from school
It’s a good idea to talk with your child about how they will be getting to and from school. Many schools are cutting back on bus routes, so you may want to put together a walking group and rotate chaperones. Have them practice the route to school to ensure they don’t get lost and show them where the bus wil pick them up and drop them off.