Hard to believe it but the start of a new school year is just around the corner! The start of every school year is ripe with excitement and challenges for both parents and students alike. However, due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 school year may feel especially full of uncertainties and anxiety-inducing questions. Here to help you navigate going back-to-school, we have 10 strategies to set you and your child up for success.

1. Talk to them about what they are feeling. It is important that kids know that it is okay to be both nervous and excited on the first day of school and that this is a common universal experience.

2. Focus on friendships. If your child hasn’t seen many of their school friends in a while, schedule some outdoor play dates to get them socially acclimated again. Talk about friendships, discuss what makes a good friend and how to make new friends. Just think about how hard it is for us as adults to get back to small talk!

3. Routines! Get back into a consistent bed and wake-up time. Check what time your child will need to be at school to schedule enough time for getting ready and eating breakfast in the morning. It is crucial for children to get enough rest for them to be at their best. 

4. Get them back into the learning mindset. Read to them in the morning, provide word puzzles or other age appropriate learning games to work on for an allotted amount of time each day. Children will need to build up that school stamina again and this daily activity will get them in the right mind frame.

5. Prepare your child for how this school year will look different-- wearing masks, social distancing, proper handwashing, hand-sanitizing, etc. Especially, if your child was learning remotely all last year, school will look and feel different than they remember and knowing what to expect can help alleviate stress.

6. Do a dry run! Whether your child is in elementary or middle school, test out the route they will be taking to and from school. If your child will be traveling to school by themselves, take the bus/train with them so they can familiarize themselves with the route. If you will be taking your child to school each day, go there with them once before the year begins. This will help to decrease anxiety on the first day of school, acclimating them to the way you will travel there.

7. Review important information with them. Let them know who will be picking them up and dropping them off and where you will be. (Will you meet them by the tree every day?) Do they know your contact information and most importantly the first and last name of the person picking them up? This is especially important for younger students who just know adults by titles such as “Grandma.”

8. Encourage responsibility and independence. Children feel more comfortable showing up for school if they are confident doing things on their own. For younger children this may be putting on their coat & shoes, or opening their own food containers. For older students, it may mean knowing how to use a planner to keep track of assignments. Promote independence by modeling and encouraging kids as they take on new tasks. 

9. Start a new first day of school tradition. Maybe they get to pick a special snack or have a special dinner or breakfast. This will give them agency and associate the first day with a happy event.

10. Find out what extracurricular activities your child enjoys and what is provided by their school. Having a fun activity to look forward to at the end of the day is great motivation. Spots may be limited so plan early so your child won’t miss out on the experience. To see if NIA offers afterschool programming at your school visit https://www.niabklyn.org/programs and check out https://discoverdycd.dycdconnect.nyc/home to register for DYCD After-School programs across NYC.

As the year begins, continue to check in with your child to see how things are going. Anxiety is a common reaction to new situations, but if you notice any changes in mood or behavior be sure to address it and share concerns with the child’s pediatrician.