With summer slowly coming to an end (yes, we can hardly believe it too!), we’re preparing for our kids’ first day, week, and month of school — and not just academically. The slow journey of getting back to school is often filled with a whole bag of feelings for our kids, who, beyond the typical challenges every child faces when returning back to school, also face many stressors unique to them. Adjusting back to the traditional school setting, new routines, friends, and teachers can create not only anxiety for kids, but also a lack of motivation. And if they have sensory, behavior, and focus challenges, finding that motivation to tackle long school days can be even tougher (for parents too!). So how can parents and schools support and motivate our kids without a battle, while also affirming their feelings and experiences?
Transitioning from a fun-filled summer into the daily routine of school isn’t the easiest thing for our kids. Gear up for the start of the new school year and help your child conquer the unknown with these awesome Undivided resources:
Motivational tips for the kiddos. We asked the experts for tips on motivating our kids to tackle each new school day with optimism, not to mention the dreaded task of homework and other non-preferred activities. Try these Motivational Strategies for Going Back to School, including vision boarding, micro tasking, rewards apps, and more, from Dr. Vivian Wang, PsyD, and Dr. Faye Carter, PhD, BCBA-D.
Managing back-to-school stress. What do transition periods usually have in common? That’s right — anxiety! In our Back to School/Back to Life event series, Undivided talked with four child anxiety reduction experts at CARE-LA to break down different concepts relating to anxiety, giving us tangible skills and expert advice to help our kids navigate these complicated feelings through these periods of change, such as heading back to school. Read their tips here!
IEPs and 504 plans for mental wellness. Having mental and behavioral health support on campus is vital for our kids’ well-being! Learn more about navigating the school system, how to qualify for mental health services in IEP and 504 plans, types of mental health services offered at school, and more in our article How IEPs and 504 Plans Help Support Mental Health in School.
A new school year often brings many changes and challenges. Here are some more ways we can teach and model mental and emotional wellness to our kids to help them head back to school:
- Being flexible in thinking when faced with everyday challenges means that we can change our ideas, be kinder to ourselves, and improve how we handle stress and disappointment.
- Being emotionally regulated when navigating tough situations and feelings means we can find ways to calm ourselves when we get upset; learn to deal with feelings of frustration without losing our cool; and look for ways to problem-solve when confronted with an upsetting situation.
- As psychologist and founder of CARE-LA, Dr. Lauren Stutman, PsyD, tells us about mental wellness, “This is a systems theory approach — change happens from the top down, which is why self-care for the parents is so important.” Here are 5 ways to model mental wellness for neurodivergent kids — and the whole family.
One Undivided parent shared with their Navigator, “Because of Undivided, I have created these super awesome mommy connections with three of the members, and we text all the time and support one another. This is literally so fantastic and I feel like I finally have people that I can just be so real with. Thank you guys for bringing together a space where we can create deep, meaningful, and totally real/authentic relationships with others who ‘get it.'”
Undivided Conversations: 5 Ways You Can Help Your Child’s Mental Health This Year
Join us Friday, August 2 at 12:00 p.m. PDT for an enlightening session with the experts at CARE-LA, where we delve into invaluable tips and guidance that every parent needs. From fostering resilience with realistic boundaries to instilling confidence in what you value, we’ve got you covered. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to ensure your child’s emotional success.Tune in at noon Friday for the stream on our Facebook page!
Office Hours with Lisa Carey
What’s your biggest concern preparing for a new school year? On Wednesday, August 7, 12:00-1:00 p.m. PDT, Education Advocate Lisa Carey will be available to answer questions about IEPs and special education. Stop by for five minutes or the whole hour to get expert answers and connect with other parents. Bi-weekly Office Hours are virtual Q&A sessions with experts that are open to Undivided members only, so if you’d like to attend, sign up here to begin your free Kickstart!
- How do you coordinate private mental health services with similar supports your child might receive at school? Hear from Education Advocate Lisa Carey on our YouTube channel→
- Support your child’s emotional health by getting them involved in programs that support their interests! Check out these 5 ideas on Instagram for finding local activities→
- The Undivided parent community is here to support you through all your child’s biggest wins and hardest days. Join our private Facebook group and meet parents like you→
- Help share our mission to make sure every child can get the support they need. Connect with Undivided on LinkedIn→
- A free Undivided account lets you bookmark resources and curate your own learning library for the upcoming school year! Don’t have an account yet? Get started here→
