Christine Hernandez
Early childhood educator, writer, and mother. Your friendly neighborhood guide to all things parenting.
With summer coming to an end, many children are getting ready to head back to daycare, preschool, and school. After months of later bedtimes, vacations, and extra time with family, going back is a real adjustment. Even a child who was perfectly happy at drop-off in June can get nervous again in August.
Parents may feel it too. The good news is that a few small changes can make the whole routine feel familiar again. Here are practical tips to help your child ease back in.
Start Before the First Day
Unlike perhaps some working parents, kids don't spend the summer counting down to the first day of school. If you haven't started transition prep yet, you haven't missed your window. The goal is just to give your child a little lead time so the return to routine feels expected instead of sudden. Even a few days' notice helps.
Below is a basic schedule you can use to start your transition prep, whether you're beginning weeks out or squeezing it into the days you have left:
|
When to start |
What to do |
|
2 weeks before |
Getting on a good sleep schedule is the most important thing you can do. Begin by adjusting bedtime and wakeup time. |
|
1 week before |
Summer mornings and school mornings are very different. Slowly introduce their new morning routine until it feels normal. Start with getting dressed, breakfast and even packing their bag. |
|
A few days before |
After summer, teachers and the school can feel unfamiliar. Drive to the school, look through classroom photos, and talk about the teachers. |
|
The day before |
Treat the day before like a dry run. Start the entire day as you would when the official day comes. And to make things fun and exciting, make a game out of it so your child is entertained and eager to do it again tomorrow. |
|
The night before |
A great way to get kids excited about school is by involving them in the prep. Have your kids get their bags ready, decide what they will have for breakfast and lay out clothes for their first day. |
If you plan to take first day photos, get everything you need for that ready so you aren't rushing on your first day. You can even take them ahead of time to make the actual first day less stressful.
What to Expect Emotionally
Heading back to daycare and school after the long summer break, can bring on big emotions. Even children who are super comfortable normally can suddenly feel emotions, become clingy and anxious at drop-off.
Fear not, a little bit of separation anxiety is normal in child development. According to the CDC developmental milestones guide, it’s common for young children to experience distress during separations while building emotional regulation and independence.
Even though this behavioral change is to be expected, most children adjust within two to four weeks. But consistency during the adjustment period is very important as kids learn from repetition.
Here are a few signs of separation anxiety:
- Crying or clinging during drop-off
- Trouble sleeping before daycare days
- Sudden stomachaches or headaches before school
- Regression in behaviors like potty training
- Increased tantrums or emotional outbursts at home
Remember these are only temporary so no need to panic.
The Goodbye Ritual
How you say goodbye is just as crucial to a smooth transition. You want to keep it calm, short and predictable. A comfortable hug and one reassuring phrase and a wave will be great.
A long goodbye can seem needed but can sometimes increase anxiety and make separation even harder.
When to Seek Extra Support
Most separation anxiety fades within two to four weeks as kids settle into the new routine. But if it doesn't, that's worth paying attention to. Consider checking in with your child's teacher if you notice anxiety or behaviors that aren't improving, or are getting worse. Sometimes it's a slower adjustment, but there may be a mismatch with the environment, or something else worth a closer look.
The transition back to daycare and school can feel overwhelming for both parents and kids, but with patience and consistency both of you can be settled back into your steady routine.
