Turn that back-to-school frown upside down

Parents who haven’t broken their teenagers of their late-to-bed, late-to-rise rhythms, or who haven’t yanked their kids out of a too-too-much-YouTube summer by enforcing book reading or times-tables reviews may feel like they’ve missed the boat on back-to-school preparation.

But Dr. Jillian Roberts—child psychologist and associate professor in UVic’s Faculty of Education—can offer advice that goes beyond the big family calendar and healthy lunch ideas (though she has lots of practical ideas about this too). On the last weekend of summer, she says, it’s important to prepare kids for the social and emotional part of going back to school, starting a new school, or starting university. Go ahead and plan meals for the week ahead and plan after-school activities but—above all—start a conversation.

Setting the stage for talking is one of the most important things parents can do with their kids, especially if they are socially or emotionally “at-risk,” Roberts says. Parents can help them reframe the feeling of dread into an opportunity for a year of possibilities and positive expectation. They can also encourage their children to talk about anything and remind them that no matter what happens, or what they experiment with, you’re willing to talk them through it. (She even suggests giving them a coupon for a one-time, no-questions-asked rescue.)

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