It’s the day tissue manufacturers wait for all year: The first day of school.
In just a few hours, millions of children from coast-to-coast will bid farewell to summer as they return to class for the new academic year.
Whether your child is entering kindergarten or his senior year of high school, the first day of school can feel like an emotional roller coaster ride complete with excitement, anxiety, and fear of the unknown.
Aside from cold season, this is the time of the year when makers of facial tissue are at their happiest. After all, not only are millions of kids across the nation mandated to purchase Kleenex of Puffs as part of their back-to-school essentials, but many parents also bleed through a few boxes sopping up tears at morning drop-off.
In order to avoid messy meltdowns in the school parking lot or in the doorway of your child’s new classroom, it’s a good idea to plan ahead. You can help ease your child’s back-to-school anxiety by encouraging him to share his feelings before the school bus pulls up to the end of your driveway. This may be tough if you are dealing with a tween who only speaks to you when he needs money. Still, it pays to be persistent. Try to get your kid to talk about his emotions. You can get the discussion going by revealing your own feelings. If you are nervous or excited about the new school year, share those emotions with your child and ask if he is feeling the same way.
If you’re family is not into disclosing deep thoughts, then try a different tactic. Make back-to-school fun and exciting by celebrating the big day. Start a family tradition by making the first day of school a special occasion around your home. Whether you make all of your child’s favorite breakfast items that morning or you head to a fancy restaurant that night, by introducing an incentive, you give your kids something to look forward to on the first day of school.
What are some ways you ease into the new school year?
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