It’s hard to know what the upcoming school year will bring. Some schools are requiring kids to wear masks; others are not. Some parents are teaching their kids at home or in pods; others are shuttling them back into the classroom. Nothing feels uniformed or cohesive, and everything feels more than a little uncertain.

To put it bluntly, it’s a terrible time to be the parent of a school-aged child. Not only are we dealing with a whole range of regulations and mindsets, we are also dealing with a unique set of circumstances for every child. Some kids do well with distance learning or a hybrid environment—they are decently engaged, do their work, and learn a few things along the way. But for some kids, these environments are the very definition of torture! They have trouble engaging with a screen (or trouble engaging with other kids if they are required to stay six feet away) and feel unmotivated or disconnected. And then there are the kids who fall somewhere in between these two extremes. They might thrive in some areas…and nosedive in others.

It’s impossible to say how this school year will go. Even so, I have a few universal tips that can, perhaps, help you navigate parenting a school-aged child. If you have any tips to add, please comment below!

1. Make the Best of It

Even if you’re not 100% happy with this year’s school situation, it is usually possible to find a sliver of good. That “sliver of good” might be a supportive teacher, a parent in a similar situation, or your kid’s resilient attitude. And if the situation is truly terrible, you might find your “sliver of good” by searching for it somewhere else (in an alternative learning environment, perhaps).

The bottom line is this: If you make a habit of searching for the good in a situation, most of the time you will find it.

2. Start Each Day Fresh

Parents and children often say things to each other that they later regret. After a long day, we might be short with each other or overly critical. The important thing is to forgive (or say you’re sorry) and start the next day anew. Look at each morning as a blank slate—a new opportunity to do your best.

3. Prioritize Family Time

Spending time with your kids makes all the difference. Whether you’re sitting down to a family meal, having a game night, barbequing in the yard, or having a beach day together, these moments are important for building trust. If your child trusts you, they are more likely to feel comfortable confiding in you if something isn’t going right during the school year. Which leads me to my next tip…

4. Check In

It’s important to check in with your kids and ask them about their days. If they give you a vague answer like, “It was fine,” press a little (but don’t overdo it!) and ask follow-up questions. Try asking about something they enjoy (How was basketball practice? Does it look like the team is going to be good this year?) and get them talking. And don’t forget to be a good listener!

It’s also important to check-in about academics and see how your child is doing in their classes. Today, many schools have an online portal that allows you to view your child’s current grades in each class. If they seem to be having trouble, have an open conversation with them about what they need to do to improve. In these situations, it’s best to not be accusatory or overly negative, as that can quickly shut down a conversation.

5. Offer Support

Make it clear to your kids that you are there to help and support them through the school year. That support can come in many forms—talking them through homework assignments, signing them up for tutoring, attending parent/teacher conferences, helping your child develop a study schedule. Above all, let your children know that you are available if they need to talk, vent, or mull over a problem. Prove that you are trustworthy by taking them seriously, not gossiping about them with other parents, and following through with your commitments.

 

Your efforts could make all the difference this school year. It’s not always easy being a parent (especially these days!), but you’ve got this. Wishing you the best school year possible!

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