Author: Jennie Risley

Summer to Back2School Transition Tips & Tricks

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

Many families are either preparing to head back to school or have already started. Where did the last six weeks go? Mornings went from a slow saunter to now a mad dash. Nights were peaceful and quiet to now nothing but homework awaits. Summer is now just a distant sight in the rearview mirror. If you are like me, you’ve hit a dozen different stores to find just the right pencils and color folders. You can almost hear the school bus screeching to a stop just down the street. The reminder that mornings feel like a mad dash out the door and you begin to dread the upcoming evenings of tug-of-war over homework, dinner, showers, and bedtime. I don’t know about you, but that transition from summer to back at school can feel quite jolting!

Over the past few weeks, I have spent some time talking with other seasoned parents about what they did to help them manage that jolting transition. Here are some of the tips and tricks they offered, not just for how to manage the first week but how to successfully manage the year.

  • Routine

Routines can feel anxiety-inducing for some but they don’t have to be. Creating a functional routine that works for you can be a game-changer! One of the greatest suggestions that I kept seeing over and over again to help combat the bedtime battle was to slowly back up bedtime. Over the course of a week simply back up bedtime by 5-10 minutes each day. Doing this will help prevent it from feeling so jolting. Another great suggestion I heard was to prep the night before. Create as little stress for the next morning as possible. Prep whatever lunches are needed for the next day, have a specific place for backpacks or other items needed to be ready to head out the door, as part of your bedtime routine pick out the next day’s clothes. Whatever you do, make your routine work for you.

  • Connect

One of our Office Managers was telling a suggestion she had heard from a third-grade teacher and it was just too good not to include. One of the things that this third-grade teacher recommended to her parents was to be intentional with how you greet your kids at the end of the day. For a moment, forego the questions about homework and conflicts of the day but take this moment to remember that they are human and they matter. Greet them with an “It’s so great to see you! I hope you had a good day at school!” Greet them with positive statements, rather than questions. Let their first moments of interacting with you be moments that help them to feel like they matter to you and not about a task list. And I know sometimes with teenagers getting them to talk can be a challenge. One of the things we do in our house is “high, low, what did you learn new today?” (High- what was the best part of your day. Low- what was the thing you least liked about today.) around the dinner table. Creating an atmosphere of open communication will help you to gauge some of the feelings your kids are having about school.

  • Play

We have talked before about the power of play and that doesn’t matter how old your kids are. Even just getting outside for 30 minutes can make a huge difference. It seems so simple, but it’s easy to get home and get to cracking on homework right away. But for a moment just think about it, they have spent their entire day sitting and learning, which can feel exhausting. There is a lot of pent-up energy in those little bodies that just needs to escape.

  • Fun

One of the things we need to consistently remind ourselves is that our kids just desire to be kids and have fun. The more that you can infuse fun into as much as you can with your kids you will create a deeper connection with them and help to disarm their stress and fears.

 

There are so many more tips and tricks that we could offer but we just wanted to give you a few. Do you have some tips and tricks that have been successful for you and your family? Comment them below.

We truly hope that you have a great start to the school year!

Back-to-School Jitters

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

As a new school year begins, it is normal to have some back-to-school jitters. Then add the stress that many are feeling as we continue to combat a worldwide pandemic. Walking into another school year of uncertainty can be frightening. Helping your kids discover, understand, and cope with the feelings they are having can be a challenge for some, especially if you as a parent have mixed feelings as well. As our kids begin their new school year here are a few tips on how you can help your kids manage their stress.

Observe your child’s behavior

Watch for potential signs of depression. Some might include serious mood changes, changes in their eating habits, abdominal pain, withdrawing or isolating themselves from loved ones or from activities they enjoy.

Have open communication

Frequent check-ins on how they are feeling are a great way to foster open communication. Giving your child the space to express their anxiety about school and validating their feelings will help keep the lines of communication honest between you and your child.

Avoid other stressors

Whether we realize it or not, our kids are always listening and watching our reactions and feelings about what is happening around us. Many times they are waiting to take their cue from us. Insert as much positivity into your daily conversation with them and around them.

Add fun

Kids want nothing more than to just be kids. Create an atmosphere of intentional fun into your week and weekends. Give your kids time and space to relax, unwind, and have fun.

 

[Here is a fun way to help you understand how your child is feeling about school starting back.]

Celebrating the 4th during a pandemic

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

Life feels like it is finally getting back to normal, but for some, there is still a sense of hesitancy to go back to large gatherings. COVID is still very much so present and a part of our daily lives. So how do you celebrate the big events throughout the year but still maintain some social distancing measures?

When you think of the Fourth of July you think of BBQ parties, firework shows, and gathering with friends and family but for some, that’s just not an option. Many different states still have group mandates and restrictions making it difficult, or even impossible, to get together with friends.

Just because the Fourth of July looks a little different this year doesn’t mean it can’t still be celebrated or fun. Here are a few different ideas to have a fun, but safe, Fourth of July.

1: Red, White, & Blue theme

Wear your favorite red, white, and blue outfit and get festive with your food by matching it with your red, white, and blue theme. Blueberry jello, whipped cream, and strawberries make the perfect layered dessert for a 4th of July themed dinner. Or you can take a dessert shortcut and grab some bomb pops!

2: Get outside!

Who doesn’t like to play in the water on a hot day?! Grab the hose and hook it up to a sprinkle and let the kiddos go crazy! In our house, we love to have water balloon fights! You can add a festive spin to this family tradition by everyone wearing plain white t-shirts and adding some red and blue food coloring to your water.

3: Alternative Fireworks show

Skip the crowds and watch the fireworks show on tv! You can watch it at your leisure and you don’t have to worry about a good view or the crowds. If you have littles, you can create a fun science experiment on making fireworks in a bottle! And it’s only 3 ingredients!

  • Baby oil
  • Food coloring
  • Water
  • glass jar

Mix the food coloring in about 1 cup of baby oil. Pour mixture into a glass of about 3 cups of warm water and watch as the food coloring separates from the oil and makes a beautiful display in the meantime!

We truly hope you have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July this year!