Are you developing back-to-school blues knowing the school year brings stress and anxiety?  Today’s families frequently have working parents who are short on time and energy. Going back to school creates stress on families, so it pays to be proactive in developing school-year strategies. Here are some frequently asked questions to assist you:  

How can I help my children feel more positive about returning to school?

- Evaluate your own worries and feelings and stay calm. If parents are anxious, frustrated or have temper flare-ups while getting the kids out the door to school, children pick-up on this and may exhibit the same. Try to stay composed and work to have a calm, organized beginning to everyone’s day.  

- Address your child’s concerns about returning to school.  Reminisce about previous good experiences at school and point out the benefits of starting school such as seeing old friends, making new ones and learning new things. Call your child’s school and see if you may visit the school. Ask if it is possible to meet your child’s teacher.  

How can I prepare them for the significant change in daily routine? 

- Several weeks before school starts, help transition the kids back to their school schedules by adjusting sleeping and eating routines. Have the kids start reading and reviewing math skills.  

- Reduce stress on the first day of school by making a practice run the week before school starts.  Have your family get ready for school and work, get in the car and drive by the school.  Instead of school or work, go have a fun family breakfast adventure at a local restaurant close to the school.  

- Make the choice to manage your time and plan ahead!  The night before, plan and set-up for breakfast, make lunches for school and work and pick out clothing for the next day. It is very important to have designated areas for placing school work, backpacks, briefcases and cell phones. You can save valuable time in the mornings by know ahead where you place things for the next day’s use.

 - Consider driving your child to school or find another child in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school or ride with on the bus.  Picking your child up that first day will give you a great opportunity to hear about the back-to-school experience.  

Once they are back in school, what can I do to make it easier for my children to adjust to the daily routine school requires?

- After school, take time to let kids debrief about the school day. Start giving gentle reminders about moving on to dinner or homework time.  Create a family tradition for after-dinner study time. Parents can read or help children with their homework during this time.  

- Create an environment that encourages doing homework.  Reduce arguments over homework by designating a homework area and reviewing homework rules.  

[b]It seems like I’m always playing catch up, right along with my kids.  What can I do so that we’re not always reacting to the crisis of the day?[/b]  

- Don’t wait until something unexpected happens; plan ahead and have a back-up plan.  Know who you can call or what you will do if one of your children is sick or if the kids have a snow day.  

- Get on your school’s Web Site and print an official school calendar. Be sure to mark scheduled days off and early-release days on the family calendar to prevent surprises.  

When the kids’ schedules get busier, mine does too.  How can I meet their needs without exhausting myself in the process?

- Ask your children to help and delegate chores. Sharing in family chores teaches children to be responsible and allows the tasks to get done sooner so you have more time to relax and enjoy family time. Include children in grocery shopping and household chores.  

Every year I promise myself I won’t let my children’s schedules get so hectic.  How can I put my resolution into action?

Though you want to keep your overall goal in mind, focus on smaller, more manageable tasks.  Seeing tangible progress will help you keep the momentum going and increase your effectiveness.  Some examples are:  

- Use a family calendar to keep up with family activities and project due dates.  Evaluate how you and your family use your time.  - Choose your kids after-school activities wisely.  

- Use short-cuts such as doubling recipes and freezing the extra for a busy night.  

I know there situations will arise that I haven’t anticipated.  Who can I talk to if I have more questions about back-to-school strategies or other parenting issues?

Call TPC’s Parenting Advice Line (PAL) at 817-332-6399 Monday-Friday from noon-3 p.m.  We’re here to provide information, offer suggestions or simply listen if you need to vent your frustrations in a safe way.