Preparing Your Child for Back-to-School

Victoria Azzopardi, Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Partnership for Children

With the start of a new school year just around the corner, there’s an opportunity to help your child step into the new year feeling prepared, understood, and ready to grow. 

Start by spending time together imagining the first day: talk about what they’re excited to learn or who they hope to see, giving them a chance to express their hopes, nerves, and questions. Let their thoughts guide you; the simple act of listening shows them their feelings matter and that you’re walking this road alongside them.

Easing into the school day routine can help – think about shifting bedtime a little earlier each night as school approaches and eat breakfast around the same time you would on a school day. Creating a routine and rhythm gradually can help both their rest and readiness to return. Establishing an after-school routine that gives your child time to unwind, talk and rest can also be beneficial.

If worries swirl around new friends, unfamiliar routines, or meeting teachers, acknowledge those feelings. Share a time you felt uncertain and how you discovered that those first, timid moments often lead to shared laughter, support, and growth. If possible, offer a short school visit before the big day. A walk through the classrooms or hallways, or a wave to a teacher, can make the unfamiliar feel familiar. 

There will be days when homework piles or moods dip and that’s okay. These are the rhythms of growing: moments when leaning back into routines, breaking out a snack together, or reading a favorite story can steady both of you. 

As the season settles in, it’s important to make space for regular check-ins, not as a chore, but as a shared moment. Over a snack, walk, or bedtime hug, ask how they’re feeling, what’s helped or what feels hard, and what small joy they encountered today. Let their voice guide the conversation, responding with encouragement, calm assurance, and, when needed, exploring small ways to steady the day ahead.

More than anything, the journey doesn’t need to be perfect – it needs your presence, your listening, your belief. When your child heads into the school year grounded in care, feeling seen, steady, and connected, they carry with them a quiet strength that no challenge can shake.