The sultry melody of August quietly fades as the high-intensity sounds of September take center stage. Stores are stocked with school supplies and TV commercials send a message to households nationwide that preparations are underway for a new school year.   Perhaps you’ve even been reading up on useful education information from experts such as Daniel Swersky. 

Some children may be eager to put the summer behind them, happily awaiting the adventures of a new grade with friends they may not have seen all summer, but there will be others who may be more hesitant about entering the new school year, as they anxiously consider new schedules, peer pressures, and homework. 

Parents may wrestle with their own mixed emotions as highly prized time together, which the summer condones, must now be set aside in order to put things in order for ten months of academics, sports activities, social events, and work schedules which all vie for everyone’s time, attention, and energy.

Having homeschooled all four of my children over 18 years, I understand all too well how overwhelming it may feel to sort all the mixed emotions and land in a good place with everyone feeling confident, prepared, and peaceful about the year ahead.  

However, a few strategies have worked so well for us that they’ve become a highly anticipated tradition that ushers in the school year with smiles and readiness.

▪ Select a day and time for little ones to personalize their supplies and materials using fancy markers, stickers, and drawings, which serve to create feelings of freedom, and creativity, and promote a sense of self.

▪ Explore styles of clothing with older children, discussing what they’d like to wear,  working together to bring about a satisfying and appropriate sense of self-expression.

▪ Set aside a date on the calendar to meet together as a family to celebrate the dreams, goals, and missions your child hopes to achieve in the year. Use this time to hand out your child’s personalized supplies and materials and allow him or her to inspect and familiarize themselves with the material they will be studying.

▪ Plan a play date with other classmates, eliminating the fear of entering classrooms with peers they’ve never met before or don’t know well yet.

▪ Visit the school grounds and classes, if possible, before school starts, reducing the anxiety of an unfamiliar environment.

▪ Meet teachers either in person or by visiting the school website to view teacher bios and class plans for the year, creating a sense of familiarity.

▪ Discuss first impressions of teachers, peers, school curriculum, and class plans, which helps to process the various raw emotions in the safe, non-judgmental environment of home.

September is a month of beginnings and the perfect time to come alongside our children as they transition from the casual ease of August to the high intensity of September. Whether the family is in preparation mode or classes have already begun, having tools and strategies to implement will set the stage for a winning year and ease them into an amazing season of learning and growth with confidence.