Cutting out box tops to help your kiddos schools is almost a rite of passage as a parent, but did you know you can still help your local school without destroying all the cereal boxes in your pantry? That’s right, there’s an app for that!
Box Tops for Education’s app lets parents ditch the scissors by scanning in their receipts and still raking in the funds to help out. All you have to do is use the app to take a photo of your receipt (within 14 days of your purchase) and it will automatically locate eligible products for you, even updating your school’s earnings in real time!
While there are tons of participating products that can be scanned using the app, if you come across an older Box Top you can still clip and send to your school. Every coupon is still worth $.10.
In even better news, Box Tops’ just unveiled a brand new feature where you can select schools in need and direct your funds there for added support. According to the Education Trust, low-income schools receive almost $1,000 less per student in state and local funding so each and every Box Top helps out in a big way.
If you’d like to learn more about how Box Tops’ new in-app feature is helping schools in need, you can head here.
Anyone, no matter how young, can help make the world a better place through their thoughtful actions. It’s never too early to set a good example for children by modeling simple acts of kindness. When children are encouraged to see things from another’s point of view and be shown how their actions can help uplift others, they often grow up to be more caring, responsible, and compassionate members of a global community. Books can teach children that they don’t have to perform a heroic act to make the world a better place because even the smallest acts of kindness ripple across the world in ways that no one could imagine.
Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade
Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Rulerby Margery Cuyler
Mrs. Ruler is an unconventional teacher who decides to teach her unruly students that kindness is cool. Each kindergartner must perform five acts of kindness, and while most of the kids catch on, there is one student who needs a rescue of the class gerbils to get in a last-minute act of kindness. Parents and teachers will appreciate the list of 100 acts of kindness at the back of the book to inspire kids with ways to put kindness into action.
Stick and Stoneby Beth Ferry
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor?
Written with a warm, rhyming text that includes a subtle anti-bullying message even the youngest reader will understand. New York Times bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld imbues Stick and Stone with energy, emotion, and personality to spare.
Second & Third Grade
The Kindness Quiltby Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
The children in this book are inspired by Aesop’s fable The Lion and the Mouse after their teacher, Mrs. Bloom, reads the story in class. She then instructs each student to perform an act of kindness and present it to the class. Minna cannot choose just one and decides to make a quilt with all of them. Other classmates add theirs to the quilt, and it soon takes over the school. The unique cut-paper illustrations present a variety of ways in which the important lesson of kindness can be shared, and displayed.
Because Amelia Smiledby David Ezra Stein
Amelia smiles as she skips down the street, so her neighbor Mrs. Higgins smiles too, and decides to send a care package of cookies to her grandson Lionel in Mexico. The cookies give Lionel an idea, and his idea inspires a student, who in turn inspires a ballet troupe in England! And so the good feelings that started with Amelia’s smile make their way around the world, from a goodwill recital in Israel to an impromptu rumba concert in Paris, to a long-awaited marriage proposal in Italy, to a knitted scarf for a beloved niece back in New York. Putting a unique spin on “What goes around comes around,” David Ezra Stein’s charmingly illustrated story reminds us that adding even a small dose of kindness into the world is sure to spur more and more kindness, which could eventually make its way back to you!
Fourth & Fifth Grade
El Deafoby Cece Bell
After a serious illness at the age of four, CeCe discovers that she’s no longer able to hear. Hearing aids and lip-reading involve unexpected challenges, and as she goes out into the wider world she realizes how little people understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss. To succeed in school, she gets a bulky device called a Phonic Ear that allows her to hear her teachers—even when they forget she’s listening. This delightful autobiographical graphic novel provides an uplifting and humorous glimpse into the life of a hard-of-hearing child. A great novel for raising awareness and promoting understanding.
New Kidby Jerry Kraft
A wonderful choice by the 2020 Newberry Award committee as the first graphic novel to win the prestigious award. Seventh-grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. Instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds. Jordan is not really fitting into either one. This book allows readers to learn about different sides of the tensions that children and adults face every single day, yet have few opportunities to really discuss.
Middle School
Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Storiesby Amanda Li
From surviving a plane crash in the jungle to striking against climate change, you won’t believe the incredible stories of the challenges these brave kids from around the world have overcome! This book features 29 tales of amazing young girls and boys who have achieved the unimaginable. The stories range from triumphing over illness and injury to overcoming bullying. Entries include Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, whose youth climate activism sparked a global movement, and Pakistan’s Ayesha Farooq, who became Pakistan’s first female fighter pilot at age 25. Each section gives advice on how young people can participate in activities similar to the ones in the accompanying biography.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Editionby Catherine Ryan Hyde
A moving and uplifting novel about Trevor McKinney, a twelve-year-old boy in a small California town who accepts his teacher’s challenge to earn extra credit by coming up with a plan to change the world. Trevor’s idea is simple: do a good deed for three people, and instead of asking them to return the favor, ask them to “pay it forward” to three others who need help. A heart-melting story of a boy who shows how each of us can make a difference. If your family enjoys this book, watch the movie together afterward.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
In the US, the assumption from the day my child was born has felt like I’d either a) surrender years of costly education and hard work to her and my partner OR b) essentially pay a nanny to be a third parent so I can ignore our home life and burn myself out at work. Both are incredibly disempowering.
“But isn’t option A what you want, you Housewife?” No, because I’m not a Housewife.
“But isn’t option B what you want, you Career Woman?” No, because I’m not a Career Woman.
I’m a human being, with accomplishments, goals, dreams, and aspirations. I’m a child of a Head Start pre-K teacher. She and my father both worked hard to afford private elementary school, a choice they felt was best for me at the time. I got into Bard, Bennington, and most of the other fancy “alternative” colleges, but my family couldn’t afford to send me there. So instead I worked my butt off in high school to earn myself a full ride at a public liberal arts college in Florida. When I wanted to pursue grad school to learn more about technology and move out of Florida, I took out a massive student loan that crippled me financially for the next 12 years. I finally paid it off, partly by doubling my salary within five years through grit, determination, and a real need to get out of that hole on my own. (And by my own, it also included a heaping cup of white privilege and marrying a cis white male partner, which in so doing doubled my income yet again.) I do not want to throw all of that away.
I also do not want to ignore my child in favor of a job at which I am ultimately disposable, like all other “at-will” employees in this country. It is hard to describe how deeply I longed to have a child and hold her in my arms for years and years. The reality of parenthood is much harsher than the rosy image I had of it, sure, but I still cherish every moment and love her to the moon and back. Parenthood is an opportunity to me, not a burden. I’m not outsourcing one of the most joyful aspects of my life that I have planned and yearned for.
“Geez, you sound angry.” Yes, I am angry, as I should be. (Female anger is not something to be feared, by the way. Anger is an emotion like all of the others, and one that all mothers in this country are currently very much entitled to feel.)
Yet again we are dealing with a complete failure of our government to provide even a modicum of financial and emotional support for women. The underlying message? “Your life is not worth more than your output.” As Jill Filipovic wrote about much better than I could, “Free Female Labor is The Plan.”
When I heard about the “glass ceiling” in my 20s, I always imagined it was something that I would slowly rise up to and softly bump into. That has not been my experience. Instead it’s a heavy glass pane that gets slammed into your head, knocking you out, dizzying you. It’s been three years since my daugther was born and I’m still looking around in a daze and unsure of what the hell happened.
So what am I doing about all of this? Well, I started a community called Seattle Parents Club. It’s a free, open, and supportive space for parents of all genders and families of all shapes to join together online and off. We now have more than 60 wonderful members, and I hope you will join us if you live in the Seattle area.
I’m also doing my best to not go for option A or option B, but rather forge my own path away from both, towards Other, Not Pictured Here, etc… I want my daughter to see that the format of her life is not a few decades of achievements and infinite opportunities followed by a sudden narrowing of her choices, none of which fit. That’s not what any child should see when they look at the roadmap ahead of them. Watch this space, I suppose, in terms of what that “Other” really looks like. Again, I’m only human. I’m just figuring it out.
By the way, if this post seems hurried, it’s because it is. I formulated most of this in my head while taking a shower, as my husband rushed out the door to drop off our daughter at daycare. I’m writing and publishing these words in the approximately 15 minutes of free time I have between getting ready and starting work. Is that the ideal way our family’s mornings would be? No, but like I said, I’m still forging the path.
Heather Merrick lives in Seattle with her husband, daughter, and a tailless cat. She leads customer support teams for startups by day and manages the Seattle Parents Club by night (or, to be more accurate, very early in the mornings). She loves podcasts, gardening, photography, and toddler crafts.
If your kid is a budding rocket scientist, working for NASA is the dream. Now they have a chance to help design a new robot for an excavation mission on the moon! The Lunabotics Junior Contest is accepting entries now and harnesses the creativity of young engineers.
The contest is a collaboration between NASA and Future Engineers and assists a future Artemis Moon base. Competing students will design a robot that digs and moves lunar soil to a holding container. Submissions must include an image of the robot design and a written summary conceptualizing how it will operate on the Moon.
Kids from K-12 can participate and sign up either as individuals or register through their class. The Lunabotics Contest is open to public, private and homeschools and runs through January 25, 2022. 10 semifinalists will win a prize pack and four national finalists from each category will win a virtual session with a NASA subject matter expert. The national winner will be announced on March 29!
Artemis missions will create a long-term human presence that will make future Martian exploration more efficient. This particular contest is important because lunar soil could be used to create lunar concrete, reducing the materials needed to be transported from Earth. The Artemis Student Challenge series allow students everywhere to contribute to NASA’s work in exploration and stokes creativity. You can read more about the contest and find education resources here.
When it comes to cooking with kids, what sounds like a good idea can quickly turn into a disaster. Enter Felicity Curin and Cat Cora, two world-reknown chefs behind the Little Kitchen Academy (a Montessori-inspired kitchen where kids as young as 3-5 get to be chef) who are changing those potential disasters into dining successes. There they learn to wash, chop and cook their way to a seasonal meal they’ve made themselves.
What does it mean when it says, “Montessori-inspired Cooking Academy”?
“I was so inspired when I went back to get my AMI degree and realized that cooking is an incredible vehicle for teaching life skills, using a Montessori-inspired pedagogy,” says Felicity Curin, who conceived Little Kitchen Academy. “Montessori is a way to provide an environment in which children can become who they are meant to be. They are given tools and experiences that allow development at their speed, with their interests being encouraged, while nurturing specific needs during their sensitive periods. Focusing on the sensitive periods of the different age groups is fundamental to what we do at Little Kitchen Academy (LKA) and giving our students the ability to work at their own speed and to focus on what interests them the most is incredibly important. One student may absolutely love pitting cherries and spend twice as long as another student, who wants to finish up that task quickly so he or she can spend more time washing dishes. Having 10 separate workstations allows our students to work at their own speed and develop their interests.”
Cat Cora, the first-ever female Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit show: Iron Chef America, adds, “What I love about the Montessori-inspired approach is that each child can work independently and really figure out what he or she loves most about cooking. It’s a great way for children to find what inspires them in the kitchen, which resonates so much with me. Felicity and the whole team create such an empowering, warm environment for the students to develop into who they were meant to be, and I am so inspired by the experience every time I see a class.”
What is the biggest hurdle for kids when it comes to nutrition, making healthier choices and learning to cook?
Curin says, “There is so much accessible information out there these days and it can be overwhelming to know what to practice! I suspect the biggest hurdle is understanding which food philosophy is the correct one. We believe that the correct food philosophy is the one that makes you feel the best! If we really take a step back and a deep breath, we would see that ANYTIME we make something from scratch rather than processed or pre-packaged, we are already making a better choice. And at LKA our mission is clear: let’s build our students’ confidence and capabilities in the kitchen so when they are ready to make a choice, they will take a risk and try. Let’s help them decide what is good for their bodies, and how they like to prepare it. Let’s help them discover why they like certain foods…and sometimes, why they don’t!”
Cora adds, “The best way I have found to get a child to try more varied foods is getting them involved in cooking. Let them help you decide what’s for dinner and other meals. Let them feel invested in the meal and help cook. Kids as young as three years can begin in the kitchen like I did. At Little Kitchen Academy we have students from three years old to teens. They learn measuring, math, science, and other life skills while cooking. This also increases their confidence and independence. So have them try everything once and get them invested in the meal, cooking, gardening and grocery/farmers markets to learn more about ingredients. They will feel empowered and ready to cook!”
When parents are tired and it’s late and everyone is hungry, what’s an easy, go-to meal that everyone can participate in making?
“I recommend one pot or pan type of meals such as turkey chili, sheet pan chicken fajitas, spaghetti or a big chopped salad with everything thrown in. Breakfast for dinner is quick and easy as well and who doesn’t love that?” says Cora.
How do you recommend approaching new fruits and vegetables that young children may be suspicious of? What if a child refuses to taste his/her creation?
Curin: “When you engage a student in the process of cooking and give the child the choice about what to try, you create an environment for the child to take a risk. We make it very clear to our students that they don’t have to like what they try, but we do encourage them to understand why they don’t like it. Perhaps a child who has always said she doesn’t like tomatoes will discover that she, in fact, DOES like tomatoes when they’ve been picked, washed, chopped, and slightly seasoned. Or maybe caramelized in the oven with garlic and salt and pepper.”
How do the classes empower kids to cook at home?
Curin says, “LKA classes empower cooking at home and so much more! Our feedback ranges from a young student stepping up to help her parent cook dinner one night when things were really hectic; that was an emotional story to hear because it so clearly emphasized how much our children want to contribute. We also have heard from parents that their children now want to help set the table and sweep the floor! Another powerful result is how parents have noticed their children are more willing to jump in and take a risk when presented with a new ingredient.”
How do you navigate nervous parents who tend to eek and squeak when their child is using a knife or something sharp?
“Parents can be understandably nervous knowing their child is entering a very independent environment—we get it!” says Curin. “Our instructors are compassionate and gentle observers and only want to keep our students safe and inspired. We have extensive safety measures in place and our expectations follow very detailed knowledge in developmental stages and tendencies. We are prepared for exceptional learners (children with special needs), special diets and restrictions and, most importantly, apprehensive students and/or parents.”
What was the most surprising outcome of the Little Kitchen Academy that you’ve seen?
Cora says, “I’m always so surprised by how incredible the students are and how much they can absorb in a three-hour class. It’s inspiring to see them learn skills that I know many 30-year-olds still don’t know how to do! Watching three-year-olds learning how to hold a knife safely and chop vegetables for the recipe they are making is so wonderful because I know that those are skills that are going to last each child a lifetime. Even better, I know that this experience is helping our students develop in so many ways beyond just learning how to cook. It’s beautiful to watch, and I’m so grateful to be a part of something this special.”
Little Kitchen Academy is currently in Los Angeles (parents can register here) but keep an eye on the website as we imagine they will expand across the US soon.
A lifestyle writer whose work can be seen in Red Tricycle, Money.com, Livestrong.com and Redbook. When she’s not checking out new events, museums, and restaurants to keep her and her kids entertained, she can be found wandering around flea markets and thrift stores looking for cool vintage finds.
Ever wish you mastered another language as a child? When kids have a bilingual education, they’re challenged daily to step out of their comfort zone and connect language to the world around them. Becoming bilingual gives children the tools to thrive in many aspects of their lives—now and in the future. Dual language programs help develop critical thinking skills, foster creativity, boost problem-solving capabilities, and improve cognitive performance.
At the German International School in Beaverton, children learn in a supportive environment dedicated to helping them grow into well-rounded, global citizens. GIS is an International Baccalaureate School, featuring German and Mandarin language immersion, and serving two-year-old’s through 5th grade.
Students in the preschool and kindergarten programs at GIS begin making important connections through play-based education, as well as interaction with teachers and native-speaking peers. Children are exposed to German or Chinese (depending on the chosen track) and English through stories, songs, art, movement and immersion-style instruction—building important communication skills and preparing for the transition to the full immersion program. Previous Chinese or German language experience is not required to enroll in preschool or kindergarten.
It’s a Collaborative Community with Student-Centered Learning
The German International School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, committed to developing knowledgeable, caring, bilingual world citizens. The IB program focuses on cognitive development, as well as the social, emotional and physical well-being of each student. The program's aim is to shape inquiring, internationally-minded students, who are culturally aware, prepared with skills to tackle society’s complex challenges and seek to create a better world.
Small class sizes help young learners succeed in Chinese or German immersion. From the classroom to the outdoors, this tight-knit community of students is provided with thoughtful environments and experiences that spark curiosity as they explore. By interacting with warm, knowledgeable teachers and friends of various cultures, kids at GIS become well equipped to connect with a wide variety of people from all around the globe.
Learning Extends Beyond the Classroom
GIS students also learn through music, art, and PE. These specials give students fresh perspectives and ways of experiencing what they’ve learned in the classroom through different mediums. No matter the activity, students have countless opportunities to nurture their curiosity with inquiry-based learning. With a focus on empathy, the school’s Second Step program teaches kids how to recognize and communicate their emotions, so they can be good learners and good friends. Set up a tour today!
This year’s back-to-school season is once again shaping up to be another uniquely-COVID experience for teens and parents. With schools finally moving back to in-person after over a year of remote school, online extracurriculars, hybrid partial-return-to-school models, and constant uncertainty, we don’t have to tell you that this transition might be tough.
In-person learning has so many social and academic advantages…but it also includes all of the social anxiety of peer interactions, the combined demands of balancing school work with extracurricular activities, and for many a dramatic increase in overall time spent in activities. With the current rise in COVID cases, your child might also be stressed about their health or the uncertainty of what yet another atypical fall may look like. This year’s back-to-school season is likely to bring a great deal of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety to students and families.
Anxiety has been one of the most common health impacts related to COVID for teens, with 19-36% of teens showing new or worsening anxiety during the pandemic. Unfortunately, anxiety tends to intensify in periods of stress and in uncertain or unfamiliar situations. This year’s back-to-school anxiety may look different for everyone. It could be stress about meeting new people and making new friends for a student’s first time on campus despite having “attended” the school virtually last year. It could be rising juniors’ or seniors’ fears that online learning did not adequately prepare them for the rigors of these important years.
Back-to-school stress is typical. However, it is important to recognize it and address it. Look for ways back-to-school stress could be presenting itself in your child. Some ways stress tends to manifest itself includes:
Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and difficulty sleeping.
Negative thoughts such as “I’m not going to make any friends”, “I’ll never get into college/get a good job if I don’t do well”, and “My parents will be disappointed in me.”
Anxious or depressed mood including agitation, difficulty focusing, and low motivation.
Unhealthy coping behaviors such as oversleeping, over or under-eating, substance use, or self-injury.
If your teen is experiencing anxiety about the transition back to school, encourage them to talk about it with you, or with a trusted support such as their school counselor or therapist. When these worries come up at home, our natural parenting instinct is usually to try to reduce our child’s distress, often by trying to convince our teens not to worry. For example, we might say things like ‘If you work hard in all your classes you will be fine’ or ‘Everybody is feeling nervous about going back!’ While this is fine for occasional worries, if you find yourself reassuring your teen about similar topics multiple times per day, it might be time to switch tactics. Instead of reassuring, validate their emotions such as ‘You sound pretty worried about not getting to be with your friend group at lunch’ and then ask your teen to come up with a possible solution, or to use therapy skills for coping with their anxiety (like ‘riding the wave’ of anxiety, using coping skills, or practicing an exposure).
As you start to shift back to typical routines, also make sure that you schedule in extra downtime for your teen. Uncertainty is exhausting, and there is a lot of it right now. Let your teen know that you understand they are probably feeling overwhelmed or tired and that you want to give them space for self-care.
Your student might not be experiencing any of the symptoms above; however, they could still be feeling worried and anxious about going back to school. Try starting a conversation with them. Ask, “How are you feeling about going back to in-person school? What are you excited about? What are you least looking forward to?” Or, “You’ve already been through so much change this year, how can I make the transition back to in-person learning easier for you?”
For most students, their schedule is about to be the busiest it has been in over a year. Recognize that and work with them to help address their fears and chart a schedule so they can be successful and manage the stress that comes with returning to school.
Amy Mezulis, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, mother of two teens, and Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Joon Care, a teletherapy practice for teens and young adults. Dr. Mezulis specializes in youth mental health and her research has been funded by the NIMH and the APA.
Calling all Barbie fans! America’s favorite doll is headed off on a new adventure in Netflix’s newest film.
Debuting Sept. 1, Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams follows Barbie Roberts across the country to New York. Excited to spend the summer at the Handler School for Performing Arts, no one is more surprised to run into another student named Barbie Roberts, than Barbie herself!
The music-packed film brings Barbie and Barbie together as the two share their dreams of making it big on Broadway. With new nicknames to set them apart, Malibu and Brooklyn both set out to win the program’s Spotlight Solo with their own unique talents.
While Malibu Barbie is self-taught, Brooklyn Barbie has been trained for years in music, dance and singing. The duo demonstrates that there is never one single path to success, and that anyone can succeed if they bring their A-game!
The newest Barbie film celebrates the potential in every child to succeed and that sometimes a competition is more about bringing out the best in each other, rather than winning.
Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams will debut on Netflix Sept. 1. Keep an eye out for a new line of dolls, playsets and accessories all themed after the film this fall.
For kids, when it comes to heading back to school, reconnecting with classmates and meeting new teachers can be thrilling, but the process can also provoke a mix of excitement and anxiety too (especially if it’s their first time back since 2020). We found a few experts to weigh in on the best ways to quell those first-day butterflies. See what they had to say below.
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1. Start adjusting schedules now. The first day of school might be a few days (or weeks) away, but it’s never too early to start re-adjusting schedules back to early morning mode. That means switching from late nights and lazy mornings to reasonable bedtimes and early rising.
2. Do a practice run. Before school starts, it’s helpful for students and parents to familiarize themselves with a new school or a new classroom. Visit the school during the summer break and, if possible, visit the classroom where your child will be attending. Mark Griffin, the headmaster of Eagle Hill School in Connecticut, says a classroom visit can help to alleviate the fear of the unknown for an anxious student.
3. Involve your child in decision making. Whether it’s encouraging your kid to pick out her new school supplies or asking your child what he wants to pack for lunch, letting them have a say in what they can expect in the coming school year will give them a sense of control and confidence. Eleanor Mackey, a psychologist with Children's National Health System in Washington, D.C., says allowing kids to be engaged with finding solutions can help them feel better about potentially scary situations.
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4. Validate your child’s feelings. Some parents may dismiss a child’s fears of going back to school or miss cues that may reveal something deeper than mere nervousness. “Kids are resilient, but it’s good to validate what they are feeling,” says Allison Wilson, director of curriculum and innovation at Stratford School in Southern and Northern California. “Parents sharing their own stories about their first day of school or about other changes they’ve experienced can resonate with kids and make them feel less worried.”
5. Establish a routine. Going back to school signals the return of the ultimate routine for students and parents. Beyond re-establishing healthy bedtime and waking schedules, well-kept routines like homework, after-school activities, and mealtimes can help students focus on being prepared at school and help families get back into the swing of balancing academics and social lives.
6. Talk about it. Wilson encourages parents to be open to talking about a child’s fears before and after the start of the new school year. “Dialogue can be open-ended, but ask specific questions,” Wilson says. “Don’t ask general questions like, ‘How was your day?’ Be specific, ‘What did you draw in art class today?’ ” In addition, Wilson says parents should model open talk by sharing the highs and lows of their own days.
7. Remember that one size does not fit all. A variety of factors may influence the impact of going back to school and any corresponding anxiety that a student feels. Whether it’s a kindergartner starting full-day school or a middle schooler transitioning to using a locker for the first time, it’s important to recognize that not every child will have the same reactions to new situations. Scholastic offers some helpful tips for ensuring that each kid gets the kind of individualized support they need, including not assuming that your child’s experience will be the same as yours in school.
8. Consider different milestones. In the same way that not all students will experience similar levels of anxiety at the start of the school year, it’s important to consider the differences between entering different grades, different schools or different social dynamics. Meeting your child where she is and the circumstances surrounding the changes being experienced—rather than forcing your perspectives and fears onto your child—will help to calm nerves.
9. Do your homework. There are plenty of resources that can help parents and students cope with back-to-school anxiety, including a wide variety of books that address the topic in humorous and relatable ways for kids. From The Pout Pout Fish Goes to School to Second Grade, Here I Come!, reading stories with your child about what it’s like to go back to school can be a fun, shared activity. Find our favorite back-to-school reads here.
10. Don’t prejudge too quickly. As parents, we like to believe that we’re attuned to what’s going on with our own kid at all times, but sometimes we may mistakenly diagnose back-to-school anxiety when the culprit might be something else entirely. Wilson says, “Maybe it’s not fear or anxiety. The jitters could be excitement or simply not knowing what’s ahead.” Active listening and supporting your child can help to discern the difference between an issue that’s big or small.
11. Host a playdate. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Children’s Center provides useful resources and tips for parents and students coping with back-to-school anxiety, including hosting an after-school playdate with a fellow student in order to start getting acclimated to being around classmates before the first day of school.
12. Review past successes. Although the previous school year may seem light-years away, reviewing with your child his successful completion of the prior school year will help set him up for success in the coming year. Jessica Borelli, associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine, says reminding a student of their past achievements will help build confidence for the impending new school year.
13. Have one last hurrah. Before the start of school, spend some quality time together as a family. Take a road trip, splurge on a fancy family meal, or have a surprise adventure. Arming kids with fond memories of what they did over the summer, aside from sleeping in or going to the beach or pool, will give them conversation starters with their peers and fuel them to get through the first few weeks and months of classes.
14. Get organized. In the days and weeks leading up to the start of school, make sure supplies are purchased, pantries are well-stocked, and back-to-school clothes are ready to go. Nothing exacerbates back-to-school jitters like disorganization and chaos at home.
15. Keep calm and carry on. “Children are really intuitive and adults sometimes don’t see that,” says Wilson. “We may be projecting our own anxieties on our children, which can make the situation worse.” Instead of obsessing about the unknown with your child, remain collected and focused on all of the positive aspects of starting a new school year.
While your kids are out splashing through the rest of summer, keep this new study in mind! A former college swimmer and graduate student at the University of Delaware wanted to research if exercise would boost vocabulary learning performance. The results among a group of elementary school children backed that theory up—with certain forms of activity.
The study focused on 48 participants between the ages of six and 12. All of the kids completed a word learning task, then colored for three minutes before testing on their ability to recognize the words. The exercise condition split the kids in two groups for another word learning task. Group one then completed three minutes of aerobic exercise (swimming in this study) and group two completed three minutes of anaerobic exercise (a CrossFit-like workout) before testing.
And the results? The kids who completed the aerobic exercise did 13% better compared to resting conditions in follow up testing on the new words. Meanwhile, kids who completed the anaerobic exercise had no significant difference in performance compared to resting conditions.
Co-author Madison Pruitt, the former college swimmer who is now a speech and language pathologist, had a hypothesis for the difference in performance based on exercise type. Because the aerobic exercise demanded less brain energy, it was easier for kids to retain information. When combined with the physical activity, it actually improved their ability to learn new vocabulary. The University of Delaware’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders plans to conduct a similar study with toddlers.
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Jeff Dunham on Unsplash
