4 Easy Stress-Free Ways to Prepare Your Child for the New School Year (2024)

I’m Virginia school assembly presenter Joe Romano. For the last 30+ years, I’ve presented impactful, educational, and fun school assemblies to schools in VA. Each month, I create new articles just like this one to help parents, teachers, and school administrators navigate the ever-changing landscape of children in school.

Preparing your child for the new school year is actually pretty simple. Start by talking about the school year in positive ways. Children model their behavior after the trusted adults in their lives. If you show excitement for the new school year, it will help your child feel more enthusiastic.

And that’s not all. Just do these simple things and going back to school will be easier than you thought.

Back to School Tip #1: Change Your Schedules

This is probably the most important change your family needs to make for the new school year. If your child has gotten used to staying up late, eating snacks, and sleeping in, you’ll want to slowly adjust your schedules. Start bumping bedtime back little by little.

If your child has been waking up late for most of the summer, you’ll need to start adjusting their morning schedule, too. Trying to go from staying up late and sleeping late to a school schedule without acclimation is going to be tough on your child.

Start slow. Move bedtime back 30 minutes every few days until you’re back to a school schedule. Same thing with waking up in the morning. Start setting an alarm to wake up your child. Start backing that time 30 minutes every few days until you’re where you need to be for regular school days.

Back to School Tip #2: Start Shopping for School Supplies

Every school year comes with a long list of supplies. By getting started early, you’ll avoid that mad rush the last couple of weeks before the new school year starts officially. And there’s an important part of getting supplies to remember.

Allow your child to come with you. Let them help you pick out supplies. Sure, you may have to veto certain expensive luxury items. But picking out school supplies is important for kids. It allows them to have a sense of ownership in the process.

Also, going back to school is difficult for some students. Maybe they don’t fit in. Maybe they’re worried about bullying. But allowing your child to help pick out their new school year gear can help ease some of their anxiety.

Back to School Tip #3: Check Out Your Child’s Curriculum

Compare your child’s new school year curriculum with their experiences of the previous year. Were there any subjects where your child struggled? Did you need to get a tutor to help your child with any topics? Getting on top of any potential challenges before the new school year starts can help you ease any stress as the first day of school approaches.

Back to School Tip #4: Meet with Your Child’s Teachers

If you can, schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers early. Make it clear that you just want to have a conversation. This allows you to get to know your child’s teacher on a personal level before any problems arise. This early conversation helps you discover what the teacher’s expectations are.

Knowing all of this upfront helps you tremendously if you ever need to speak to the teacher during the school year. You’ll already have a good idea of what expectations are. If your child complains about being treated unfairly or finds themselves struggling, you’ll already be armed with first-hand knowledge about the teacher. This can help smooth over or prevent any misunderstandings.

Remember, the goal is for you and your child’s teachers to work together. You’re all on the same team. And you each want what’s best for your child. Besides, it’s always a good idea to meet teachers early, before tensions mount!

Start the New School Year Off on the Right Foot!

Are you on your child’s school PTA/PTO? If so, you can help everyone in your child’s school start the new year off right. My “The Magic in You” school assembly is the perfect way to bond the entire school together. With a positive message of perseverance and achievement, this program will captivate students with magic, join-in fun, child-friendly humor, and more! Contact me for no-obligation information today.