Tammy Sassoon
As the countdown to a new school year begins, it’s easy for parents to shift into “preparation mode.” Suddenly, we’re shopping for school supplies, organizing schedules, scheduling haircuts, buying shoes, and wondering how the summer disappeared so quickly.
While all of those tasks are important, don’t overlook one of the most valuable ways to prepare your child for school: strengthening your connection with them before the first bell rings.
A child who feels emotionally connected to their parents walks into school with an invisible layer of confidence. They feel secure, supported, and better equipped to handle the academic, social, and emotional challenges that lie ahead. The end of summer isn’t just about getting children ready for school, it’s about getting their hearts ready, too.
Slow Down
One of the best things you can do over the next few weeks is to slow down. Childhood moves quickly, and before long, homework, sports, and extracurricular activities will fill every afternoon. Take advantage of these final days by giving your child something they crave more than another outing or expensive activity – your full attention.
Spend twenty uninterrupted minutes simply enjoying your child. Not correcting. Not reminding. Not multitasking. Just enjoying them.
Play basketball in the driveway. Take a walk after dinner. Bake brownies together. Build a puzzle. Let your child choose the activity. When children feel that we genuinely enjoy being with them, their emotional “bank account” fills. Those deposits strengthen trust and make them far more receptive to our guidance when challenges arise later.
Important Conversations
These last weeks are also a wonderful opportunity to have conversations that often get lost during the busyness of the school year. Ask questions that invite reflection rather than one-word answers.
“What was your favorite part of this summer?” “What made you feel proud of yourself?” “What are you excited about this school year?” “What are you nervous about?”
Sometimes children carry worries they haven’t shared because no one has slowed down long enough to ask. A simple conversation today can prevent unnecessary anxiety tomorrow.
As school approaches, begin easing your family back into routines. Rather than making dramatic changes the night before school starts, gradually move bedtime earlier, reestablish morning routines, etc. Predictability creates security, and children typically handle transitions much better when they happen gradually.
How Did Your Children Feel?
Additionally, remember that children don’t need a perfect summer to feel loved. They don’t need extravagant vacations or a calendar packed with exciting events. What they remember most is how they felt when they were with you.
Did they feel heard? Did they laugh? Did they feel accepted? Did they know they were more important than your phone? Those moments become the foundation of a strong parent-child relationship. The backpacks will be packed. The school supplies will be purchased. The first day of school will come whether you’re ready or not. But these last few weeks of summer offer something you can’t buy and can’t get back once they’re gone.
Build the Relationship
So, linger a little longer over family dinners. Say yes to one more game. Stay outside for one more sunset. Listen to one more story. Laugh a little louder. Because while you’re preparing your child for another school year, you’re also building a relationship that will last long after their school days are over.
A FRESH START
If your child struggled last year, this is an especially important time to offer a fresh start. Resist the temptation to remind them about past mistakes or disappointments. Instead, communicate hope:
“I believe in you.”
“We’ve grown a lot.”
“We’ll face challenges together.”
Children often become what the important adults in their lives believe they can become. Our confidence in them frequently becomes their confidence in themselves.