Back to School Tips

The 2014-15 school year is just around the corner, and with the start of a new school year comes excitement mixed with a little anxiety. Help your child ease into the new school year with a few simple steps!

Building a sense of excitement about the start of school year can help to ease any transition fears. One idea to encourage positivity is to create a countdown to the start of school. Websites such as Pinterest are full of fun and exciting ideas, from a back to school paper chain to popping balloons. Decide on a project together and create it as a family, being sure to include your child counting down each day.

Introducing a few new books about back to school can also help kids know what to expect. A few to consider: (Nursery-Year 3) The Kissing Hand by Audrey Pen, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, Llama, Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney; (Year 4-6) First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, Smartypants: Pete in School by Maira Kalman and Amelia’s Notebook by Marissa Moss.

A week or two before the start of the school year, begin talking about all of the exciting new adventures and memories they are about to participate in. Reminisce on the fun they had during the previous school year, and talk about the new activities to come. Have a conversation about the various classes and subjects they will soon experience. For those children who are starting school for the very first time, begin to encourage their independence with using the bathroom and eating a simple snack.

For families starting at BSC, continue to read the  “Starting School” book you received this past spring and recall the fun they had during the art, music and yoga classes. While looking at the Friendly Faces page, talk about the friends they have made over the summer and the new ones they will make during the school year. Discuss how you will walk them to the classroom and what your good-bye routine will be.

Begin to establish the schedule you will follow for the school year and slowly transition to an earlier bedtime and wake up. Allow time for your child to adjust to the new routine to help ease into these changes. Discuss how they will get to and from school, whether they will be having hot lunch or bring a packed lunch, what clubs they may attend, and if they will need to go to after-care.

Whether you are new to the school or a returning student, take a moment to read your teacher’s bio and talk about areas where you or your child might have something in common with them, or come up with a list of question you and your child would like to ask the teacher on the first day. Make sure to explore the specialist teachers too!

Have your child take some time to try-on their new uniform, and take a few photos of them in their new uniform with a sign of the year group they are joining. Save the photo then take another photo at the end of the year to see how they have grown.

Attending back to school events such as the New Parent Breakfast, Drop-In Day and Back to School Evening will allow your child to meet staff members, see their classroom and get to know their future classmates. At the evening event, teachers will talk to families about the routines and expectations for the upcoming school year.

Enjoy the last few days of summer, and we look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks!

Julie Swan
Director of Admissions and Marketing