The beginning of a new academic year is accompanied by a lot of emotions. Some additional help is sure to be appreciated by families and teachers.

For many, the back-to-school season is a period of great excitement and stress at the same time.

In fact, one poll showed that 87% of parents with children under 18 face some kind of stress or anxiety when it comes to the back-to-school season. And such stress is a reminder that preparing for a new school year is much more than buying notebooks, backpacks and other supplies. It also involves adjusting to new routines and expectations.

How Families Can Ease Into a New School Year

When preparing for another school year, one can face a lot of changes in terms of the daily routine of the whole family. An earlier wake-up time, homework, extracurricular activities, and a busier schedule may require adjustment following summer months when things were a lot easier.

One way to prepare is to get used to a sleeping schedule before the first day of school. Because of summer vacations and a relaxed schedule, bedtimes become unpredictable. Returning gradually to a school routine before classes begin may make those first early mornings less abrupt.

If your child has gotten used to going to bed later, consider moving bedtime earlier several weeks before school in order to make a slow transition.

A visible schedule can be helpful, too. For instance, a wall-mounted digital family calendar can keep activities and household responsibilities visible in one cohesive place.

Another way to make the transition smoother is to give kids some ownership over their routine. That might mean giving them the freedom to choose what to wear on the first day or even planning school lunches depending on their age. Older kids can organize and customize their spaces for homework and other school activities. Small choices can add a sense of familiarity and predictability at a time when plenty of other things are changing.

How Friends and Family Can Help During the Back-to-School Rush

The back-to-school rush shouldn’t be experienced by parents alone. Friends and extended family members provide help during this period. This kind of support doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated. For instance, a quick text letting a parent know you’re thinking of them during a hectic first week of school can mean a lot. When someone has to juggle school schedules and work, a subscription for grocery delivery, a meal or help in completing an everyday task can save some effort.

The same applies to teachers who have to get to know their new group of students and go back to all the hustle and bustle of classroom work. A thoughtful message, a gift or just an expression of appreciation is a great way to show that you understand the efforts put into organizing a new school year. 

Besides, help can take many forms. Sometimes parents just need someone to listen as they talk through the difficulties of the transition, whether it’s about a child’s first-day nerves or the difficulties in adapting to a new schedule. Checking in without immediately trying to solve the problem can be a meaningful form of support, too.

Helping College Students Feel Closer to Home

When it comes to back-to-school care packages for students, there’s nothing better than one that reminds them of home in some way. Spoonful of Comfort’s College Care Essentials package, for example, includes soup, rolls, cookies and college-themed goodies.

Those changes can bring mixed emotions on both sides. While students may be excited about being more independent, they might miss familiar people and routines at home. Similarly, parents can feel proud of their children’s achievements and still find it difficult to cope with the quietness of their house and new relationship with their child. Thus, staying in touch in a way that feels natural to both parent and student can help maintain that connection without getting in the way of a student’s growing independence.

Helping Homeschool Families Get Going

There are more than 3.4 million homeschool students in the United States, according to recent estimates. For many families, this means parents are balancing the roles of caregiver, educator and household manager.

Financial considerations can also come into play in the early days of each academic year, bringing about stress or strain. For homeschooling families, the start of a school year can include  planning lessons, buying curriculum and supplies, and doing all of this alongside lesson planning, activity coordination, and taking care of household chores. That makes homeschool parents another group worth remembering during the back-to-school period. A text, handwritten note, care package or gift card can acknowledge the time and effort they’re putting into the year ahead.

Going Beyond School Supplies

Preparing to go back to school may begin with a checklist of supplies, but the transition is a lot more than having notebooks and pencils. Students, parents, educators and homeschoolers are all getting used to their new schedules, expectations and feelings as they enter the school year. Little acts of kindness and encouragement go a long way to help someone adjust. At the end of the day, sometimes what someone needs most in the back-to-school season is not a supply, but a friendly reminder that they’re not alone in the process.