Back-to-school jitters are a common issue with school age children. Even teachers get nervous sometimes. And surely, you can recall a time when you were in school when your nerves were churning on that first day, too. There are many things that can happen to make the jitters even worse, like not being prepared for the first day back to class. Luckily, there is a Montessori way to ease those back-to-school jitters so the little ones are more excited than nervous to go back to school.
Slowly Revert Back to a School Schedule
During the summertime, families pack up their suitcases and go on vacations, taking on an entirely new routine that is far removed from what life was like during school. This is perfectly fine. Soak up the sun and freedom while you can!
But imagine jumping right back into a school day after weeks and weeks of late dinners and even later bedtimes. As an adult, you wouldn’t like that. Your children have the same problem. Plus, that sudden change in routine could make your child feel all the more nervous about school the next day.
Instead, adjust your routines gradually so that you are already on a school schedule before school even starts. For example, have your child go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Have them wake up, eat breakfast, brush their teeth, and do some tasks that aren’t difficult in the morning to get that normalized. That way, they adjust and the first day of school won’t be a big surprise. At night, set a specific bedtime so they get enough sleep and are alert come morning.
Talk About The Cool Things You Can Do at School
When you worry, it’s easy to think about the things that could go wrong. Your child is no different. They are probably wondering if they are going to get along with the teacher, if they’re going to be bored, or if they’re going to fit in with the other children.
To calm your child’s jitters, you can tell them about how great school can be. Talk to them about the fun they will be having. Tell them that they will be doing arts and crafts, reading about their favorite things, and getting to meet other kids from all over.
Another way to get your child focused on the good things about school is to show them picture books. Head to the library or the bookstore and pick up some back-to-school themed material. The visuals will help your child imagine the classroom. If they had attended school the year before, ask them if the pictures remind them of anything.
Prepare For The First Day Together
Children get a boost of confidence whenever they succeed at something independently. You can have them help you with preparing their school lunch for the first day back. Ask them if they would like to make up anything special. You can also let them pick out their back-to-school outfit the night before, dress themselves in the morning, and gather their school supplies together. Even before that last week of summer, you can let your child select their own new backpack or lunch bag while you go out shopping.
When your child succeeds at these tasks by themselves, they will be much more confident about the rest of the day. It will also occupy them, keeping them from thinking too deeply about the nerves in their belly.
Walk Down Memory Lane
Jitters can be brushed away like dust when you start thinking about how fun the last school semester had been. If your child is going back to a Montessori school in Philadelphia, you can talk about their projects and education from the previous school year. Maybe they had learned how to do something impressive. Bring that memory back so they can relive those emotions.
For children who are freshly entering a Montessori school, why not discuss how your school years were? Go into detail about your school experiences. It will be an excellent way to connect with your child and may help them understand what they are experiencing.
Final Thoughts
Routine melts jitters. Although the first few days starting or returning to school might be difficult for you and your child, the jitters will dissolve. The key to ease your child’s nerves is to start talking about school as summer comes to a close and to remind them of what school was like. The sooner you get them thinking about the classroom, the sooner they will be prepared to go back. Do the best you can, and that first week of school won’t be so rough.
