As the summer winds down, and children head back to school, you might be struggling to re-establish healthy routines and structure. COVID certainly added a layer of complexity this past year. If you are one of those parents, looking for guidance on where to begin, here are some strategies to get you going.
Cultivate Excitement
For many kids, heading back to school is a source of disappointment – maybe they are talking about all the things they did not get to do this summer. Validate their frustrations, “Yes, it really does stink that you/we could not…” while also planting a seed that this new beginning is worth it “I bet you are really excited to see/do/learn about/etc…”
Plan Something Intentional
Remember when your child said they missed out on something? Try spending a night (or more) the last 1-2 weeks of summer, in an activity of their choice. Play an active role in creating a lasting memory for the end of summer.
Create Visuals
I can imagine that your summer, as COVID restrictions lifted, included some random adventures, lazy days, and a sense of ‘making up for lost time’ as a parent. However, school is coming and with that, responsibilities. Work with your child to list out their daily chores, expectations, and schedule, so that they can get back into a rhythm. Togetherness is the key here, to get their buy-in.
Start a New Routine
Picture your family life after adding a question of the day for dinner time, weekly movie night, or a monthly volunteering event. Are you more connected to each other, effective in your use of down time, or finding yourself more joyful? Pursue improving your structure with something meaningful.
Make Time for Check Ins
If you are not already, I strongly encourage you to set intentional one-on-one time aside to process your child’s thoughts and feelings from the day. They are trying to adjust to a new normal, yet again. For many kids, what you see in their behavior is only half the story – their defiance, withdrawal, or perceived lack of caring might be a sign they need more of your positive attention.
Do Not Forget About Self-Care
As a parent, you will be making your own transitions, and you will need time to process. Did you start exercising, journaling/reading, or some other practice to strengthen your alone time? Now is the time to keep going – or to start fresh – as your children will be watching you for guidance. You may even want to re-up that babysitter.
It is important to remember no perfect script exists to doing life post-COVID or post-summer. If you find yourself or your family struggling to get grounded going into the school year, we would be honored to come alongside you.
To schedule a therapy appointment with Andrew Denecke, or one of our therapists at LiveFree Counseling, please call 720.465.6180 or click here.
