Classes will soon resume at local schools, St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, and RMC. Families often have concerns about the back-to-school transition, and these suggestions can help!
Supporting school-aged children
Whenever possible, keep a familiar routine – clear expectations help children to feel more secure.
- As summer holidays wind down, make gradual weekly adjustments until you find bedtimes that suit your family’s needs, and can be maintained throughout the school year.
- Post a visual schedule with morning and evening routines. Include “choice time” for activities that can be enjoyed once need-to-do items are completed.
- Make sure your child knows who to go to if they struggle with schoolwork or social situations.
- Build familiarity with photos of your child’s new classroom, playground and bus stop.
- Help your child identify strategies to feel more at ease (e.g., mindful breathing, which can benefit the whole family).
An “All About Me” page is a helpful tool to inform teachers and childcare providers about your child’s interests and strengths, struggles and coping strategies, and variations in bus or pick-up routines due to work schedules, living arrangements, or deployment.
Invite children to help plan, shop for and pack healthy lunches, and have kindergarten students practice opening/closing containers on their own. Being involved nurtures confidence and independence!
Consider creating a back-to-school tradition, like reading a specific story, making matching bracelets to feel connected, or planning a special dinner to talk about memorable moments from the first month.
Children and youth from military families can access free crisis and mental health support by texting CAFKIDS to 686868. Full details can be found at https://cfmws.ca/support-services/families/children-youth/crisis-texting-service.
Parenting College and University Students
Gaining independence can be both exciting and overwhelming – it takes time to adjust to greater freedom, new responsibilities, and a changing relationship with parents – so patience is key.
- Let young adults make more decisions for themselves.
- Extend your focus beyond grades alone. Notice effort, show interest in key learning areas, and validate other rewarding aspects of post-secondary life, including extra-curricular activities, volunteering, and work placements.
- Encourage direct communication with instructors, when questions or concerns arise, and access on-campus supports as needed.
Remember Your Own Needs!
The back-to-school season can be emotional for parents – especially faced with the beginning of kindergarten, the youngest child reaching school age, or a transition to university or college. Consider planning something special for yourself, or meeting with friends marking a similar parenting milestone!
Our team can connect families with parent coaching, assistance in meeting higher medical or educational support needs, and more. To connect with a Military Family Navigator, please call (613) 541-5010, ext. 5195 or email kmfrc@kmfrc.com.
By Leigh Wood, KMFRC Military Family Navigator (Bilingual)