August means just one thing for children and teenagers: back to school. While for many kids and teens, going back to school is an exciting and fun experience, it is not that way for all students. Here at Embark, we want to help out those students who may struggle with academics a bit due to ADHD or social skills due to anxiety. There are many different reasons that children may find returning to school difficult, and Embark is here to help.
When you pair regular therapy with family support and academic support, a child can have everything they need to be successful in the classroom. Starting at home, the following are some tips to make going back to school a success.
Tips to Make Back-to-School a Success
- Point out the positives about returning to school, such as time with friends or a favorite electives class. Even the students who say they hate everything about going to school can find one positive aspect!
- Remember the basics: sleep, exercise, and nutrition. Children need good nutrition and exercise every day and good sleep every night. Help your child find opportunities to get active, ensure your child is eating balanced and healthy foods daily, and create a healthy sleep routine. Children thrive on routine, even sleep routines. Here is a link to the CDC Recommendations for how much sleep children and teens need. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/sleep.htm
- Have family meals together regularly; This is another great way to support a predictable and consistent routine and added time for connection.
- Limit electronic use. Find a balance that works for your family about the use of electronics. They may have to be put away at a certain time in the evening to support positive sleep. (See #2). Schools rely on laptops, so ensuring kids have plenty of time unplugged is critical to finding balance in this technology-based world.
- Although some schools are moving away from sending schoolwork home to complete, it is important to have dedicated time to finish assignments and projects when needed. Many schools allow parents access to grades and assignments to help keep students on target.
- Take the time to check in with your child for a few minutes every day about their school day and what is happening in the classroom. You might be surprised by what you find out.
- For ongoing success, don’t be afraid to be an advocate and check in occasionally with your child’s school to make sure things are going smoothly. Regular communication with your child’s school and teacher is the best way to determine if any issues are happening that your child is not sharing.
If you need documentation for regular appointments for the school, please let your clinician know. We want to be able to support our clients in both their mental health and academic journeys. Hopefully, by attending regular therapy even during the school day, our clients find they are happier, healthier students!
If you have a child or teen who is struggling with the back-to-school transition and needs support, reach out to get connected with one of our child and teen counselors today. We are here to support you, your child or teen, and your family.
