Back-to-School Tips for a Successful School Year

The Birk Girl Blog
10 hours ago
5 min read

While my own son is out of school, I remember all the new school year stress for the kids, but also for the parents and the teachers. It affects everyone - at all ages. It is always a transition- whether you're getting ready for the kids in your classroom, trying to make sure you have everything on the list for your kids or handling a transition from sixth to seventh grade - It can all be stressful.

While I hope that this year might be easier for you, I also encourage you to take care of yourself as parents and teachers. Mentally is very important - but as a comfort shoe store owner and mom - also please take care of yourself physically. Having the right shoes can make or break your day! Everyone has different needs - make sure you have the right tools to make your day a good one! There are no magic bullets - but trying on a variety of styles and brands can help you determine the best fit for you (no pun intended).

Good Luck!!

Practical parenting tips to reduce stress

and build school success

Posted July 28, 2026 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan | Psychologytoday.com

As summer winds down, many parents find themselves preparing for another school year by shopping for backpacks, filling out paperwork, and checking supply lists. While those tasks are important, the most valuable preparation comes from helping children feel emotionally, physically, and mentally ready for the transition.

The shift from carefree summer days to structured school routines is a significant adjustment for children of all ages. New teachers, unfamiliar classmates, earlier mornings, academic expectations, and changing social dynamics can leave even confident children feeling overwhelmed. Fortunately, a few intentional strategies can make the transition smoother while setting the stage for a successful year.

Prioritize Sleep Before School Starts

One of the biggest challenges families face each August is resetting sleep schedules after weeks of later bedtimes and slower mornings. Unfortunately, waiting until the night before school starts often leads to exhausted children and stressful mornings.

Sleep is essential for attention, learning, emotional regulation, memory, and physical health. Children who are sleep deprived are more likely to struggle with irritability, anxiety, behavioral concerns, and difficulty concentrating in the classroom.

Rather than making an abrupt change, begin shifting bedtime and wake-up time approximately three weeks before school begins. Moving each by just 15 to 20 minutes every few days allows the body's internal clock to adjust more naturally.

Parents can also improve sleep hygiene by establishing a predictable bedtime routine, limiting screens during the hour before bed, and encouraging children to spend time outside in the morning. Exposure to natural light shortly after waking helps regulate circadian rhythms, making it easier to fall asleep the following evening.

Older children will resist these changes. They may try to sneak electronic devices into their bedroom. They may try to negotiate with you. They may argue and tell you that they can stay up late and still wake up on time for school. Make these changes anyway.

Recognize That Back-to-School Anxiety Is Normal

Even children who enjoy school often experience anxiety before the first day. Think about it from a child's perspective. They may be entering a classroom where they know few people, are navigating unfamiliar routines, wondering if they'll like their teacher, or worrying about fitting in socially. That's a tremendous amount of uncertainty for a developing brain.

Parents can reduce anxiety by acknowledging these feelings rather than dismissing them. Statements like, "It's okay to feel nervous about something new," help children understand that anxiety is a normal response to change—not a sign that something is wrong.

If your child is starting at a new school, visiting the building beforehand can be especially helpful. Walking through the hallways, locating classrooms, finding the cafeteria, and practicing the route to school all create familiarity that reduces uncertainty on the first day.

Build Independence Before the School Year Begins

Back-to-school season offers an excellent opportunity to gradually increase age-appropriate independence:

Preschoolers can practice opening lunch containers, putting on backpacks, and using the bathroom independently.
Elementary-aged children can begin packing their own backpacks, checking homework folders, and taking responsibility for simple morning routines.
Teenagers benefit from managing long-term assignments, communicating respectfully with teachers, and organizing their own schedules.

Allowing children to practice these skills before school begins builds confidence while reducing the number of reminders parents need to provide each morning.

Talk About School-Issued Technology

Many students now receive laptops or tablets from their schools. While these devices are valuable educational tools, they also require ongoing conversations about digital responsibility.

Children should understand that school-issued devices belong to the school—not to them. Activity completed on these devices may be monitored, and deleted content may not truly disappear. Teaching children to treat school technology professionally helps establish healthy digital habits that will benefit them throughout adulthood.

Parents should also review basic internet safety before school begins. Remind children never to share personal information online, click unfamiliar links, or communicate privately with strangers. Encourage them to tell a trusted adult immediately if something online makes them uncomfortable.

These conversations should focus on guidance. The goal is to help children develop good judgment—not simply avoid punishment.

Create Mornings That Feel Calm

The most successful morning routines begin the night before.

Simple habits like laying out clothes, packing backpacks, charging devices, filling water bottles, and reviewing the next day's schedule can dramatically reduce morning chaos. Visual checklists are especially helpful for younger children because they encourage independence while reducing repeated verbal reminders. When children know what to expect, mornings become less about rushing and more about starting the day with confidence.

Protect What Matters Most

Parents often feel pressure to enroll children in multiple extracurricular activities as the school year begins. While sports, music, and clubs offer wonderful opportunities, overscheduling can leave children chronically tired and emotionally overwhelmed. Children need unstructured time to relax, play, connect with family, and simply recover from the demands of the school day. Protecting adequate sleep, regular family meetings, and downtime is just as important as building an impressive résumé.

Know When to Seek Additional Support

Some nervousness during the first few weeks of school is completely expected.

However, persistent school refusal, panic attacks, ongoing sleep disturbances, frequent physical complaints without a medical explanation, significant mood changes, or a sudden decline in academic performance deserve further attention.

Children often communicate distress through behavior long before they can explain it with words. Viewing behavior as communication allows parents to respond with curiosity rather than punishment.

Back-to-school success isn't measured by perfect grades or flawless routines. Instead, it begins with helping children feel emotionally safe, well-rested, and confident enough to learn. As parents, we can't eliminate every challenge our children will encounter this school year. We can, however, provide the steady support that helps them navigate those challenges with resilience.