August, the third month of summer for most people, the last hurrah. But it you’re a teacher or school-aged kid, August is not only the last month of summer, it is the month that whizzes by at hyper-speed. Kids and teachers become acutely aware of the dwindling hours of daylight, signaling back to school time.
Speaking for teachers, August is like an alarm clock buzzing. It’s our pre-season. Because there’s always so much to do before the students return: setting up classrooms, organizing materials, planning lessons. And we have to be ready. That’s why we teachers seem to morph into meteorologists in August. We use the 10 day forecast to plan classroom days while trying to squeeze in one more outside in the sunshine day with friends and family. August is like a delicious meal to be savored, shared and appreciated.
For kids, though, August can trigger feelings of aw or ahhh! The aw group of kids, the Awgust kids, would be thrilled if the carefree days of summer went on forever. They’ve adapted to summer easily-embracing fun-filled, unstructured days that extend into night. Bedtimes and homework have been forgotten. August, though, can make even the most chill child moan, “aw!” All too soon, their days will once again become structured, follow a calendar. Their days will be separated into school days and weekends, where work time and play time are clearly defined. Speaking of work time, August is like an “ahem,” time to get going on that summer reading list.
Sometimes, though, students feel worried about a new school year starting. These kids can view the last month of summer vacation as Ahgust. In many districts, the month starts with class assignment letters sent home, making the idea of a new year real. A new year means starting over in a new classroom with a new teacher, new kids and a new set of expectations. There are more unknowns than knowns. Which can be downright scary.
After more than two decades of teaching and parenting, I have found specific worries to cause August angst for lots of kids. They are:
- Dislike of change and the unknown.
- Fear of being alone with no friends in class.
- Worry that the new grade will be too hard.
- Having set their heart set on a specific teacher, getting assigned to a different class.
Here are some simple, straight-forward strategies for helping your child to navigate the feelings of disappointment and worry for the new school year ahead (without solving the problem yourself).
- Some children are lovers of routine and predictability. You can help your child process their unease about starting a new school year by inviting them to express their feelings aloud. If you can tap into memories of feeling the same way, great. If not, listen while your child talks. Sometimes children just need to get the feelings out to feel validated. This is a great time to model empathy.
- Lots of kids fear being alone, friendless in the classroom. This is a common worry. All kids develop friendships in the classroom. Have your child recount the names of friends made in the past years. Ask them to tell the story of how they built those friendships. This is a great time to acknowledge the bravery they showed in putting themselves out there and express confidence in their ability to branch out again. Remind your child, there’s always recess to reconnect with friends from other classes.
- For many kids, the struggle is real. Learning has been a challenge and your child’s confidence is not as strong as you’d like it to be. Help bolster your child’s confidence by making a list of all of the things they can do now that they couldn’t do at the beginning of the last school year. Be specific. Did your child learn to read? Learn a bunch of math facts? Accomplishments add up quickly when given time to reflect.
- Class placements happen. Sometimes students are placed with the teacher they hoped to get, sometimes they aren’t. Know that class placements are not decided arbitrarily, there was a reason your child was placed in a specific class. If your child is bummed with the name on the letter sent home, take this as a wonderful invitation to discuss disappointment. Express excitement for the adventures that lie ahead. Remind your child that life is full of twists and turns and part of growing is navigating surprises. Growth happens when we step outside of our comfort zones and tackle the unknown.
Whether you have a few days or weeks until your child starts a new school year, enjoy each and every one.
©Kathie Z.