School bells are about to ring, and changing from the relaxed mode of summer to a school  program can be as harrying as jet leg for the long distance traveler. But not to worry…there are a few simple steps that can help your family make the change like seasoned pros.

In order to get off to a good start for the school year, your child needs to be rested. Don’t wait till the day school starts to adjust from staying-up late and sleeping-in to rising early. Beginning a new schedule ahead of time will slowly help your family transition to school time. The more gradual the process, the easier it will be on everyone. In our home, we start about three weeks out, taking stock of how far off from ‘school time’ we are. Then we make changes in 30-minute increments to correct bedtimes and waking times, adjusting every few days until we hit the mark. Our goal is to be operating on our back-to-school clock a week before the bells start ringing. Don’t panic if you’re behind schedule. Start where you are, making the change as smoothly as time allows.

Many of you will have a child who is jumping from one school level to the next or who is new to the school or area. Last year my daughter Addy made the switch from elementary to middle school. If you have children in the same position, there are things you can do to help them.

Be straight with them. Yes, there will be major differences, and it’s not only about changing classes and having a locker to decorate. Teachers will have new expectations and be asking your child to assume more responsibility—responsibilities like finding classrooms on time with homework or textbook in hand.

There are also more rules—the most noticeable to us were the dress code changes. Avoid embarrassment by being familiar with what is and isn’t allowed. Don’t forget cell phone use. Many kids entering middle school have just been given their first cell phone. Violations can mean not only losing phone privileges, but sometimes the phones themselves. If you missed the rulebook, don’t hesitate to ask for a copy before school starts.

One of the best moves we made before Addy entered middle school was purchasing a lock like the one she would be using for her locker. On sign-up day, she managed to get into her locker on the first attempt. Others were not so lucky. Some were in tears.

Talk to older children who have made the transition. That’s where we got the idea to purchase the lock. Someone who has already been there and done that can make a big difference in the life of your tween.

If your child is concerned or afraid, talk about it. Listen to your child’s concerns. Find ways to help, if you can. Sometimes all you can do is listen, but that’s a good strategy too.

Remember middle school can be fun! There are many pluses about promotion to a new school and higher grade. Addy loved the extra goodies in the cafeteria line. Once a week she would treat herself to a smoothie and buy Crystal Light Singles. Be sure and tell your child about the social activities, clubs and extracurricular activities.

Going from a home environment to a structured school situation really is like traveling from one country to the next. While there will always be a few bobbles, helping your children prepare for the changes will give them the thrill of learning to navigate on their own.


Allyn Evans (TheAlertParent.com) is the author of Live A Powerful Life: How to Move Beyond Pleaser and Good Little Girl to Conscious Queen and the forthcoming How to Help Your Daughter Live a Powerful Life (2010). Allyn is a professional speaker on teens/tweens, a newspaper columnist, a paid consultant and presenter.