Depending on what part of the country you are in, you may have already sent your children back to school while other parents are running around preparing for a return.  As a parent, I’m looking forward to a return to full in-person learning, but of course, waiting to hear what the guidelines will bring.

What continues to bring me concern are the specific things that many children missed out on over the last year that many of us may overlook or take for granted.  It’s not just academics, but also the routines and rituals that are critical.

For example, kindergarten students will spend their entire first full year of formal education remotely.  These students will not arrive with the same skill set as a first grader from a few years ago.  These students will not know what it looks like to line up in a straight line and walk quietly down the hallway.  These same students will have a different idea for what center time actually is and it doesn’t involve moving to a zoom breakout room.  

Other students such as 9th graders may have missed their entire first year of moving into the high school building.  These students may have no idea where the gym is or how to get to the nurse’s office. 

Be kind and patient with these students.  Each year students learn routines and rituals related to their school and teachers which depend heavily on foundation skills learned from the year before.  Circling back to the kindergarten example, things such as entering and exiting the building or classroom, fire drills, location of the nurse, gym, cafeteria, need to be established.

The subject of my last few blogs has dug into emotional support for our children.  Please remember, our children will be tired both physically and emotionally!  We need to give our children grace as they transition.  Going back to school should not just be a relief for caregivers but an opportunity for our children to grow.  We can help support our children at home to help make the transition back to school more successful.  

We can begin by creating at-home routines. 

• What does your morning routine look like?

  • What time does your child get up?

  • Do they need to make their bed?

  • Breakfast at home or school?

• What does your after-school routine look like?

  • Where does your child go after school?

  • Where does your child put their backpack after school?

  • Should they empty their backpack?

  • Do they do homework immediately after school?

  • Do they have chores?

• What does your school day's bedtime routine look like?

  • What time does your child begin getting ready for bed?

  • Do they turn off screens by a certain time?

  • Do they pack their backpack before bed?

#standreadytosupport