As students return to school, our Kindergartners for the first time and our rising 6th and 9th graders transitioning to new schools and social environments, they will be met with the excitement that comes with the start of a new year, the prospect of meeting new friends, and the exciting and demanding world of learning that lies ahead.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, family life for many has been upended by lockdowns, school closures, and remote work. For many families, this has meant spending a lot of time together at home navigating stressful and uncertain situations. Many children have become used to having their parents or caregiver by their side at all hours of the day. For some infants, it’s all they’ve known.

What can parents do to help their children?

Get your kids on a structured daily routine that includes exercise, socialization, and a healthy amount of sleep. If you have any academic, social-emotional, or other concerns about your child, talk with the school in advance to see what resources are available to help.

More broadly, there are many ways parents can help children build resilience:

Provide opportunities to build social connections with family, friends, and groups such as sports teams and clubs.
Encourage them to maintain physical and mental wellness with mindfulness and exercise.
Teach them to remain positive by not fixating on negative things and by learning from the past to make positive change in the future.
Help them develop a sense of purpose by setting goals and taking time to help others and themselves.

Here is much more information from the CDC about how to help prepare your child for school this year.