Coping with the new school year Tips help children deal with stress as they return to classes after vacation

The first day of school is nearly upon us. It is often an exciting time of year for children anticipating the start of a new grade and a reunion with school friends. After the long summer break, however, the first day of school can also bring with it the stress and anxiety of adjusting to a new schedule, new rules and new situations.

Transitions are hard for everyone, especially children. To make the transition from summer vacation to school less stressful, try some of these techniques:

. Establish a routine with your child. Begin a morning and evening routine a week or two before school actually starts. Set a bedtime for your child and stick to it. Children need 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night. Determine how long it takes to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast and head out the door. Set an alarm to allow sufficient time to do all of those things.

. Talk to your child about what to expect. Discuss safety and school rules with your child and make sure he or she understands them. If necessary, demonstrate what is expected of your child in school and at home. If your child is anxious, talk with your child about his or her concerns.

. Establish a check-in system. If you will not be at home when your child returns home from school, establish a system of checking in and make sure the child has some reliable way of getting in touch with you, a relative or other designated person. Consider carrying a pager or cell phone for which only your child has the number. Identify with your child acceptable places to go after school, such as a friend’s house.

. Establish homework rules. Set a time with your child by which all homework must be completed each evening and determine together what the consequences will be if homework is not done.

. Limit TV time. Reading is the biggest determining factor in a child’s scholastic success. The biggest competitor for a child’s reading time is television. Establish set hours for TV watching and try to limit this time to not more than one hour each day.

. Plan family time. Set aside time each day – dinnertime or just before bedtime, for example – to discuss how your child’s day went and to plan for the next day.

Following these guidelines will help you reduce the stress associated with the start of the school year and will help your child succeed.

Tina Murua is the child abuse prevention coordinator at Penquis Community Action Program in Bangor.