7 tips to help your kids transition into the new school year

Students are shown in a classroom in this September 2012 file photo. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

As the back-to-school countdown begins and kids across the province are gearing up for another year of learning, many parents are hoping the transition from the care free days of summer to a more regimented schedule will be an easy one for their children.

For parents like Sharon Buhagiar, who has one son going into Grade Five and another starting a full day of kindergarten, the stress levels are spiking.

“Hopefully the transition will be easy,” Buhagiar told CTV Toronto. “I’m nervous. My husband is nervous. We’re apprehensive about (my youngest son) being there full days.”

Buhagiar is not alone. Here are seven tips to help kids and parents slip into the school year with ease:

1. Get an early start on the new routine

As the summer winds down, experts say parents should encourage their kids to test out their new back-to-school routine well before Labour Day comes around. “It’s important to establish a game plan,” said Hannah Gernega of the Oxford School of Learning. For parents like Matt Kassan and Amanda Dervaitis, who have two school-aged sons that means enforcing an earlier bedtime. “The mornings aren’t going to be as difficult. They’ll be ready to get out of bed at 7 a.m. and they’ll be ready to go downstairs and eat breakfast at 7:30 a.m,” Kassan said.

2. Do your back-to-school grocery shopping early

Dervaitis adds that to relieve the back-to-school stress, another routine she encourages parents to try is to do all their grocery shopping on the weekends. “Making sure we have all the food for the week for their lunches and quick and easy dinners,” she said.

3. If your kids walk to school, re-acquaint them with the route

Experts also encourage parents to familiarize their kids with their route to school, showing them where all the cross-walks are and what school door they’re supposed to use.

4. Encourage your child to become excited about school

5. Listen to what your child says and acknowledge their anxiety

Although children may be excited about seeing their friends again, some kids may be nervous about learning new subjects. “I’m scared that I might get in trouble if I can’t answer a lot of questions,” 10-year-old Brian Bridger said. Experts say that anxiety is normal and it’s important to acknowledge that. “Listen to what the child has to say and acknowledge the anxiety,” Gernega said.

6. Limit television time and other distractions

7. Designate a homework spot in your home

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Zuraidah Alman