It's hard to believe that the school year is right around the corner, but soon lunches will be packed and classrooms filled up again.
In order to make the back-to-school transition a smooth one, Patch has put together a list of helpful tips and resources for both parents and students.
Naperville school orientation dates, bus information and reminders
Back to School tips
- The Huffington Post has an excellent article on back to school shopping tips.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has a great list of tips ranging from tips to making friends to stopping bullying.
- If you don't have class supply lists, buy the essential supplies your student will need (pencils, paper, binders) while the sales are on.
- And, if you can afford it, buy a little extra school supplies for the people who are struggling financially by donating at Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry.
Things to do before school starts
- Stop Separation Anxiety
This is possibly the hardest part of school for both children and parents is separation anxiety. It can affect children even into their pre-teen years. The National Institute of Mental Health has said that 25.1 percent of 13- to18-year-olds suffer from some form anxiety.
Try these tips to limit anxiety stemming from separation:
- Be well rested—this applies to both parents and children, as feeling tired will increase stress.
- Develop a "goodbye" ritual—according to helpguide.org, "Rituals are reassuring and can be as simple as a special wave through the window or a goodbye kiss."
- Let the child bring a piece of home with them. The piece could be something as small as a toy or as large as a backpack, but the familiarity it brings will help greatly.
- Don't give in—this applies to both children and parents. Don't let a child delay going to school, or claim being sick, but parents have to also keep their distance and not hover.
- Start to get back into a daily routine for sleeping and eating. Here are some tips for how to get into a back-to-school routine.
For more information on separation anxiety visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
For more information on Naperville Unit School District 203, visit http://www.naperville203.org/
For more information on Indian Prairie School District 204, visit http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/