As a Mom of four school age children, the end of the summer is always a little bittersweet. I’m glad to send my children back to school, and get our family back into the school routine, but I miss the slower and less structured summer days. This fall we have both a new kindergartner and a high school freshman! These changes bring stress for everyone, and can feel overwhelming. Be mindful of your children’s emotional needs as they head back to school. Take time to listen to their concerns, and help alleviate them by doing things like touring the school and finding friends in their class. It’s also helpful to use these last few days of summer to establish your back to school morning and afternoon routines. If your family is like mine, things like bedtimes, wake-up-times, and chores have all become much more relaxed this summer, and now is the time to work on getting back on schedule before that first morning alarm goes off! Have a safe and happy start to the new school year!

Carrie Shrier
Extension Educator
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor
Michigan State University Extension