Before we know it, the lazy days of summer will come to an end for many families. The same holds true for the practice of sleeping in, staying up late, and wearing bathing suits 75% of the time. To help stave off the inevitable Back-2-School Blues for many parents and children alike, Traditions of Braselton has curated a list of ways to make the return to the classroom smoother and more appealing for all involved…
Pump Up the Positivity
As the remaining days of summer wax and wane, have a list of conversation starters at the ready designed to get your kids excited about the possibilities the coming school year may hold for them. Find a variety of occasions to talk about things like what they want to be when they grow up, favorite teachers and subjects (and the whys behind them), sports and clubs they want to take part in, friends they look forward to reconnecting with, and more. At the same time, create a forum for them to feel comfortable talking to you about any anxieties they may have about school. These conversations can happen anytime and virtually anywhere – including on car rides, around the dinner table, and when tucking them in for bed. Share your own experiences and favorite memories from your own school days. If you’re positive when you talk about school, your children are more likely to emulate that same spirit.
Dress for Success
An excellent way to get kids excited about the coming school year is to go SHOPPING! In addition to some new additions to their wardrobe, they’ll need tools that will help them inside and outside the classroom. Empower them to make their own choices where clothes and school supplies are concerned. Encourage them to “dress for success” by picking out an outfit to wear to their school open house/orientation and for the first day of school. Talk to them about the power of first impressions – not only among their peers but also with their teachers and administrators. You may want to limit your purchases to just a few outfits to start, particularly with middle school, high school, and college students. Fashions change rapidly, and the trends will tend to become clearer after the first few weeks of school.
Leverage the Milestone Years
Transitions can be scary for young ones. Parents wield the power to redirect that anxiousness into feelings of accomplishment. As children transition from elementary school into middle school, middle school into high school, or – the big one – high school into college, create a celebratory atmosphere whenever possible. These are exciting times filled with promise. Take pictures to mark the occasion during a year filled with either “lasts” or “firsts.” And never miss the chance to let your children know you believe in them, that you’re proud of them, and that you see the effort they’re putting forth.
Find Every Opportunity to Educate
“Sneak in a little schooling” year-round – whether during their summer, fall, or spring breaks, over the holidays, or even on a random weeknight or weekend. Plan vacations around opportunities to educate – whether visiting an aquarium or zoo and learning about the animals they saw that day or exploring a museum and doing deep dives into subjects that interest them most – like dinosaurs or outer space or art from a specific period. Explore hands-on STEM-based activities you can do together at home. By making learning fun and engaging for your kids, you’re more likely to minimize the eye rolls when it’s time to head back to school.
Start Stair-Stepping Bedtimes
It’s okay if you got a little loose on bedtimes over the summer. After all, if you lived in a lifestyle-driven, socially connected neighborhood like Traditions of Braselton, it’s to be expected. But as the first day of school draws closer, it’s wise to start reigning in those bedtimes. Stair-stepping them back 15 minutes every few days is less likely to get noticed much – eliciting far less whining. As you set the clock back to “school year normal,” make sure those bedtime routines follow suit.
Make Orientation Day a Celebration
Most schools host an open house or orientation so students can meet their teachers, get a lay of the land, find their classrooms, and the like. This is an excellent opportunity to create an air of excitement. When you leave the school, talk about their favorite aspects of their open house experience, ask if they have any questions and offer to help them find the answers, and have a surprise up your sleeve. You can end that day on a high note with a trip to the ice cream shop, a movie matinee, or a special outing you know they’ll love. It will help solidify the day as a whole as a positive memory in their mind.
Say “So Long” to Summer
Before heading back to school, take one last vacation or spend a few dedicated days participating in their favorite summertime activities. When it’s time to switch the focus back to school, let them know that this isn’t “goodbye” to summer… it’s just “so long.” Remind them that they can still do summertime stuff during the weekends, hit the pool after school (after they knock out their homework), and have a list of events and excursions for them to look forward to – like Labor Day Weekend, Fall Break, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, and more.
Load Their Lunchbox with Love
Unless they plan to have school lunch every day, you can work together to design a weekly lunchbox menu that they’ll enjoy. This is a great opportunity to speak to the importance of good nutrition, shop together for supplies, and maybe even make a few “practice lunches” with their help. When they head back to school with their lunchbox in hand, they’ll remember the effort you put into it. To back it up, include the occasional note of love and encouragement among the contents.
Educate Yourself on the Quality of Our Schools
As if the beauty of our homes, sprawling landscapes, and allure of our resort-quality amenities wasn’t enough to draw you and your family here, the quality of our schools has historically played a significant role in many families’ decision to call Traditions of Braselton “home.” School-aged children living in our community have access to both Jefferson City Schools and Jackson County Schools.
With the belief that “Exposure to Excellence Promotes Excellence,” Jefferson City Schools was voted the Best Public School System by Jackson Herald readers in 2024. Jefferson High School gets high marks of 10 out of 10 from GreatSchools.org for Test Scores, and its Class of 2023 witnessed a 96.6% graduation rate. To prepare its students for the future, the award-winning Jackson County School System promotes its 7 Mindsets: Everything is Possible, Passion First, We are Connected, 100% Accountable, Attitude of Gratitude, Live to Give, and The Time is Now. Traditions of Braselton families love the fact that both Gum Springs Elementary and West Jackson Middle School are within walking distance of the community.
To learn more about our master-planned community and view available homes, please visit www.TraditionsofBraseltonHomes.com.
From all of us at Traditions of Braselton, we wish you and your children a happy first day of school and a FUN year ahead!
KB 7/11/24
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