APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – As summer winds down and the first day of school approaches, officials with local Boys & Girls Clubs offered tips to make the transition as seamless as possible for kids.
“Reduce worries about the unknown of a new school year by talking about it, communicating about our feelings that can help young people feel prepared with what to expect,” said chief culture officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley, Carlyn Andrew.
Andrew said that while many kids are excited for the school year to get going, many things stress kids out when they think about returning to the classroom. These stressors include meeting their new teachers, handling difficult courses, and fitting in and making friends.
Andrew said there are ways for parents to help their kids navigate these stressors.
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“Say, how can I help you feel more prepared, or that’s a problem and I want to help you solve it. How can I show up for you in that?” she said.
Andrew said that simple things like allowing kids to choose how they want to wear their hair or what snack they want to bring can help get kids excited about attending school. She said giving kids these simple choices can help them prepare for situations they may face at school.
“Those little moments of just problem-solving is a way to exercise executive functioning,” she said. “When it comes to different problem solving throughout the day, social situations, where I’m going to sit at the lunch table. They’ve been primed and prepared to be resilient by solving those smaller problems throughout the day.”
Andrew said easing kids back into school year routines is important and should begin in the last few weeks of the summer. This includes getting kids used to waking up and going to bed earlier.
“Predictability is a form of safety,” she said. “When young people know what to expect, it makes them feel more empowered and prepared with what they’re doing next.”
At the recent Boys & Girls Clubs of America`s inaugural Trauma-Informed Specialist Summit in Atlanta, Andrew received a national impact award for her work helping children navigate through the challenges they face in life. To learn more about that award, please click here.
