How to Beat the Back to School Blues
While back to school season is typically thought of as an exciting time of year, it can also be sad. In some instances, it may even cause anxiety in some kids. To help your kids beat the back to school blues, we’re sharing a list of ways to help them feel prepared, confident, and happy about the new year ahead.
Shop local this back school season at these Westchester stores.
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Host a playdate
Summer is often a time when some friends are apart. If your child is having a hard time with the new year, organize a playdate or outing to connect with their old friends or encourage them to meet new ones if you know what class they will be in.
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Read
Get ready for the school year by reading a collection of back to school books. Hearing from other kids who might not also be excited about back to school might help your child connect to their own story/feeling around this time. This is also a great way to open up some healthy dialogue around their feelings. Some favorites include The Day You Begin, Our Class is a Family, and First Day Jitters for elementary school aged children. For teens, check out Teen Girl’s Survival Guide: How to Make Friends, Build Confidence, Avoid Peer Pressure, Overcome Challenges, Prepare for Your Future, and Just About Everything in Between and Essential Life Skills For Teens.
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Get back to your routine
This one is tough for everyone. However, it’s so important to get back to the order of a back to school schedule. If you have older kids, encourage them to go to bed a little earlier every night. They should do this until they are back on their regular bedtime. This also applies to their morning wake-up time. You might have to set alarms (or have older kids set their own) to help them get back into the flow of a routine.
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Talk it out
Talk to your kids about how they are feeling around the new school year. Every year may bring on a host of new changes. Starting the year off with a check-in is a good way for your kids to express what they may be thinking about. It is helps them to know that they can come to you with anything that might come up over the course of the school year.
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Pick out some after-school activities together
If your kids’ school offers after-school activities or clubs, have your kids involved in finding programs that they are interested in. This can also be a fun way to connect with friends if they aren’t in the same class together.
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Go back to school shopping together
Get your kids involved in the excitement of the new year by going back to school shopping together. Print out the list so that they can cross off all of the essentials for the new year.
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Plan a first day of school outfit
Get the kids involved to pick out and plan their first day of school look. This can be a fun way for younger kids to express themselves.
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Make their new teacher something
Encourage your younger kids to make a picture or write a welcome note to their new teacher.
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Doing something fun at the end of summer
An end of summer adventure can be a great way to spend time together and say goodbye to summer. In Westchester, you can take a day trip to LEGOLAND, enjoy a hike, spend the day at Playland, the beach, or explore a new Westchester town (check out our guides to Port Chester, Ossining, and Sleepy Hollow).
More Books to Help the Back-to-School Blues
One of the ways we love to prepare our little ones for a new school year is by adding some books to our home libraries specific to heading back to school, starting school, and starting a new school with all new friends. Here are some books that are definitely going to help your kids beat those back-to-school blues.
Lola Goes to School (Lola Reads) by Anna McQuinn
Ages 2-4
The Lola Reads series book “Lola Goes to School” follows Lola’s adventure on her first day of school, a comforting and cheerful picture book perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Lola and her family prepare the night before, take pictures, and head to class, where she engages in activities, reads, plays, and has a snack. The book captures Lola’s school day experiences and her warm reunion with her mom. $7.99
Llama Llama Back to School by Anna Dewdney
Ages 2-5
Are the back-to-school blues causing anxiety? This one might be a go-to read. Llama Llama is anxious about the end of summer and his first day back at school. With the help of his friends and Mama Llama, he realizes that going back to school can be fun. The story is part of Anna Dewdney’s bestselling Llama Llama series, known for its catchy rhymes, effortless rhythm, and adorable artwork. It’s one of our favorites and a regular in classrooms, so adding Llama Llama to your home library is also a great way to introduce them to a text they will likely see in school. $15.82
Time for School, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff
Ages 2-4
Everyone loves the classic If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, so naturally, when Mouse goes to school, we have to add it to our reading list. Mouse is searching for his homework and preparing for school. The book introduces kids to new words and celebrates the excitement of going to school. This text is designed specifically for pre-schoolers and introduces them to the wonderful world of school. $7.14
Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro
Ages 2-6
Rosie is a new student on her first day of kindergarten. Although she is excited, she also feels scared, with “butterflies in her stomach.” However, as the day progresses, she overcomes her fears and helps another shy student do the same. This is a great read for parents who may want to help their kids understand all of the emotions that come up when they get first-day jitters.
Mae’s First Day of School: A Picture Book by Kate Berube
Ages 2-7
This story is about Mae, who is anxious about starting school. She worries about not being liked, not knowing how to write, and missing her mom. However, she meets Rosie and Ms. Pearl, which helps her overcome her fears. This book is recommended for kids who are anxious about starting preschool or kindergarten and includes tear-out lunchbox notes to boost confidence. $14.15
