We all know it—the meaning of true love comes to life in parenting, especially parenting your child through transitions. As summer break ends, parents of children who have experienced trauma may face unique challenges in preparing for the new school year. HopeConnect™ offers you the following guidance to help transition from summer break to the new school year more smoothly and positively—for both you and your child.  

Help Children Anticipate What to Expect 

• Discuss with children any anxieties they have about returning to school.   
• Walk them through what their schedules will be and where you will drop them off and pick them up.  
• Provide any information you might have about their teachers. 
• Help them to pick out clothes and lunch choices. 

Establish Routines

Creating a structured routine is crucial for children who have experienced trauma. Visual charts can be effective in reducing anxiety and providing a sense of predictability.  

• Work with your child to create a visual chart outlining daily routines, including:   
  • Wake-up time  
  • Breakfast  
  • School hours  
  • After-school activities 
  • Homework
• Include specific times for each activity to provide clear expectations.  
• Involve your children in creating the chart to give them a sense of control and ownership. Make the chart fun with vibrant colors.   
• Ask your children to choose a fun, upbeat Christian song to wake-up to.   
• Create a playlist with their favorite songs. Need some help to kick things off? Ask your child about their favorite Christian artist. Or suggest these great songs to get them going in the morning by Tauren Wells, Danny Gokey, or CalvaryKids Worship.  

Prioritize Physical Activity  

Dancing to the tunes mentioned above helps with this point. Exercise plays a vital role in managing stress and improving mood for children who have experienced trauma.  

• Encourage regular physical activity, such as dancing or walking, they can easily do with you, which can boost endorphins and serotonin levels.  
• Maintain existing exercise routines or introduce new ones before school starts.  
• Consider family activities that incorporate movement to make exercise more enjoyable like doing jumping jacks or playing Simon says.  

Celebrate the First Day 

Make the first day of school a special event. You can use the following festive ideas for more than just the First Day. Consider adapting them to each month of the school year to celebrate a new month of learning.   

• Decorate the front door with a “First Day of School” banner.  
• Create a first-day-of-school journal that your child can personalize.  
• Prepare a special breakfast, such as alphabet or heart-shaped pancakes.  

Pray With Your Child 

Transitioning back to school may evoke a lot of mixed feelings for your child. So, take a moment to pray with them too. If they feel comfortable leading the prayer, ask them to lead. If not, kick-off the conversation with Jesus.   

Whether it’s a brief prayer of faith as small as a mustard seed described in Mark 4:30-32 or great faith as the Centurion showed in Matthew 8: 5-10, praying with your child helps them give their thoughts to Christ. He can help them be strong and courageous because in Joshua 1:9 He promises to be with them always.  

Stay tuned next week for Transitioning Back to School (Part 2) offering additional fun tips on how to guide your child into their new school year.