Navigating the First Week of School: Essential Tips for First Week Success

​The first week of school is a time of excitement and adjustment for children, parents, teachers, and even the family pet! This period can set the tone for the rest of the school year, so it is important to take full advantage of putting your best foot forward. As a psychologist specializing in educational assessment, I understand the unique challenges children face. Here are some practical recommendations to help your child transition smoothly and start the year off on the right foot.

1. Establish a Routine: Consistency is crucial for all children, but especially for children with learning, behavior, or attention difficulties. A predictable routine helps them feel secure and reduces anxiety (theirs and yours!).

• Daily Schedule: Create a schedule that outlines the daily routine, including wake-up times, meals, homework, and bedtime. This schedule can be written or in visual format for early/pre-readers. A clear schedule can help your child anticipate what’s coming next and manage transitions more smoothly.
• Morning Routine: Practice the morning routine before school starts to help your child get used to the new schedule. This can include everything from getting dressed to packing their backpack. Even just waking up and practicing the routine one or two days ahead of school will make that first morning feel more comfortable and familiar. Our family has a long-standing tradition of getting up, dressed, backpacks packed, and out the door, where we pick the kids up at the bus stop to go out for a last day of summer breakfast. 

2. Set Up a Homework Space: A dedicated, organized workspace can make homework time more manageable and less stressful.

• Comfort and Accessibility: Ensure the space is comfortable and has all the necessary supplies within reach. Consider using organizers and labeled bins to keep materials tidy. If your child often needs scissors, glue, or crayons for homework, be sure to store them in this space. The less time you or your child spend looking for materials during homework time, the better!
• Minimize Distractions: Choose a quiet area where your child can focus without interruptions. Use tools like noise-canceling headphones or a white noise machine if needed. When possible, do not choose a location near to your child’s toys or entertainment activities as they can be tempting and distracting just by being nearby. For the older kids, make sure to pre-plan a place to leave the phone (and turn it off!). Our family has a docking station in the kitchen. The teens plug their phones in there when they come home from school or practice. Once homework and chores are completed, they get to check their phones back out for an hour in the evening, and then back to the docking station overnight! Starting these habits from the start will go a long way toward reducing power struggles and problems down the road. 

3. Communicate with the School: Open communication between home and school is vital for supporting your child’s needs.

• Meet with Teachers: Schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers to discuss their learning disability, if applicable, and any accommodations or strategies that worked well in the past. Share relevant information from their individualized education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. The teachers should already have this information, but sometimes it is understood differently in a conversation than simply written down. Remember, you’re the best advocate for your child, so anything you can do to best partner with your child’s teacher will make a world of difference.
• Ongoing Updates: Keep in touch with teachers throughout the year to monitor progress and address any emerging concerns. If your school uses a grading system that is online, be sure to check it regularly and follow up with your child about missed assignments or projects coming up. Communication between parents, students, and teachers is paramount to success. With older students, have them take the lead on checking grades and showing you on a regular basis. This will teach them to take ownership of their progress, as well as help them practice good communication skills with you and their teachers. 
  

4. Encourage Self-Advocacy: Teaching your child to advocate for their needs can empower them and improve their school experience.

• Practice Communication: Role-play scenarios where your child might need to ask for help or clarify instructions. This can build confidence and ensure they feel comfortable speaking up. Encourage your child to speak with their teacher, even privately, to discuss their own needs and how they can best be successful. This advocacy will set them up well for their future.
• Teach Self-Awareness: Help your child understand their learning disability and how it affects their learning style. This awareness can help them articulate their needs more effectively. Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, are not something to be ashamed of! They simply require accommodations to access curriculum with peers. Help them feel empowered about this by talking about it as something that makes them unique, not lesser.

5. Provide Emotional Support: The transition back to school can be emotionally challenging. Offering support and understanding is crucial.

• Open Conversations: Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and any worries they might have. Listening without judgment can help them feel supported and understood. Start this with a daily recap each night at dinner or before bed- whatever fits into your schedule. Model good communication and emotional intelligence by sharing about your day, too!
• Stress-Relief Strategies: Teach your child relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness exercises, to help manage stress and anxiety. Physical activity and positive affirmations are other great tips to relieve stress! Play into your child’s interests and find what works best for them.

6. Reinforce Positive Behavior: Celebrating small victories and positive behavior can boost your child’s confidence and motivation.

• Praise and Rewards: Acknowledge their efforts and achievements, no matter how small. Consider setting up a reward system to reinforce positive behavior and accomplishments. Make a big deal of the “good stuff” and encourage them to share their achievements with others your family is close to. This allows them to be “on stage” and proud of all they’re doing. 
• Focus on Strengths: Highlight your child’s strengths and interests, and find ways to incorporate them into their learning experience. This can help build their confidence and make school more enjoyable. An interested learner is much more open to difficult tasks than one who feels the content or method is boring. We all have to do hard and less-desirable things, but highlighting their strengths and interests when you can is helpful.

Starting a new school year can be a challenging time for all children, but especially those with learning disabilities. With the right strategies and support, it can be a successful and positive experience. By establishing routines, setting up a supportive environment, and maintaining open communication, you can help your child navigate the first week of school with confidence and ease.
 
                                         
                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                        Annual last day of summer breakfast

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