Back to School Season for Sensitive Parents
When you hear the words “Back to School,” what does this conjure up for you? For HSP parents of school-aged children, this time can bring up a whole slew of emotions - and even for those of us parenting babies or young children, the end of summer often reminds us that another year has passed, and that our little ones are growing up!
We may feel the excitement associated with fresh school supplies, new beginnings, and cooler weather. At the same time, the changes in routine, pressure to purchase fresh school supplies and outfits, and our own children’s emotions about going back to school can feel overwhelming for HSP parents. Let’s look at some common challenges and how to manage them with ease and confidence!
Challenge #1: Changes in Routine
Going back to school often necessitates some changes in routine from the summer - for my family, school starts at 7:30 am (terrible - I know!), so our morning routine suddenly needs to start much earlier, usually around 6 am. If this is true for you too, consider some ways to make the morning routine easier, such as:
Adjusting wake-up times incrementally earlier in the couple of weeks leading up to the first day of school
Assist your child in managing their own morning routines/to-dos at an age-appropriate level. This will help them gain confidence in caring for themselves, while reducing the pressure on you to do it all in the morning! I’m sharing a free template I’ve created for kids’ morning routines - feel free to personalize it, print it, and if you’re so inclined, laminate it so your kids can re-use it daily
Challenge #2: Preparing School Supplies
One of my kids is starting Kindergarten this year, and I just realized a couple of days ago that I’ll need to buy a new backpack, lunchbox, and assorted school supplies for him to be ready for the school year! If you are a Highly Sensitive parent like me, the traditional trip to a chaotic store like Target or Walmart for back-to-school supplies might be fairly overstimulating for you. I’m planning on ordering online or doing a curbside pickup to minimize the overwhelm, and ideally taking care of this a couple of weeks in advance so it’s not hanging over my head!
Challenge #3: Managing Children’s Emotions
For you, and for your child, back-to-school season may bring a mix of excitement, nervousness, and overwhelm. The changes in routine alone can cause emotional upset for HSP parents and children, but add in homework responsibilities, interactions with peers, and a new classroom environment, and there are bound to be some emotional ups and downs. Here are some ways to make the emotional transition back to school a bit smoother:
Begin talking about the return to school a few weeks in advance. If possible, drive by and/or visit your child’s school, find a photo of their teacher, and discuss the new things they will be learning this year!
See if they know any of their new classmates, and consider scheduling a playdate for your child to connect with their classmate in the week or two leading up to school, so that they have a friendly face when they walk into class that first day.
If possible, plan on a slow week/weekend with minimal extracurricular activities for the first week or two of school. It may feel nice to have some quiet time at home (for all of you!) as you adjust to the new school year.
If your child has homework, consider setting up a homework routine during the first week or two of school. This could look like setting aside some time just before or after dinner, or on the weekend, to get those assignments done. Homework can be overwhelming for parents and kids alike, so be gentle and flexible with yourselves as you adjust to the new routine.
I’d love to hear some of your back-to-school challenges, wins, or tips for a smoother transition! Feel free to drop a comment below to share.
P.S. For more on the topic of managing your own emotions when your child is upset, check out my blog on the Top 3 Challenges for Highly Sensitive Parents (and how to manage them).
written by Amy Lajiness, HSP Parent Coach and Educator
