August Already? A Few Thoughts as We Transition Again
I don’t know about you, but August feels like a strange in-between season.
Summer’s not quite over—but it’s definitely winding down. The sunscreen is half-used, routines are a bit more loose, and everywhere it looks like back to school exploded
For our younger kids, this shift can be a big one. And to be honest—it’s big for us too. The nervous excitement. The prep and planning. The hope for a teacher who really gets your child. The fear they won’t.
So here are a few thoughts to hold onto as we move through this last stretch of summer:
1. Start talking about school early (but gently)
Begin to weave school into everyday conversations. Maybe it’s a drive by the building, looking at photos from last year, or casually naming teachers or friends. The goal isn’t to pressure—it’s to reintroduce the idea of school as something safe and familiar.
Use your calendar to mark down the day and have your child cross of the days as you work towards the first day of school.
2. Ease back into routines
No need to jump into a strict schedule, but it helps to start shifting things. Try bumping bedtime earlier by 10–15 minutes each night, or practice the morning routine a few times. Think of it like stretching before a big workout—it prepares their body and brain for the shift. Try to get back into the school routine timing before the first day.
3. Take care when the transitions are hard
Transitions are hard, even if your child isn’t saying so. You might see more meltdowns, sleep disruptions, or other problem behaviour. That’s not failure—it’s adjustment. Lots of deep breaths, calm hugs and make space for them to get their sensory overwhelm out.
4. Make space for feelings (yours too)
While your child may not be able to express themselves verbally, they are taking in your energy. They may even realize the transition coming up you talk about every day without being able to acknowledge that they do. So make space for their feelings, but also acknowledge yours. If you are anxious about the transition, try to calm those feelings so your child doesn’t assume the transition back is scary.
And finally—remember that you’ve done this before. You’ve helped your child adjust to change. You’ve figured it out, one step at a time. It may not have always been smooth, but you got through it. And you’ll do it again.
Here’s to the final weeks of summer—and whatever this new school year brings.
If you’ve found a way to make this transition easier for your family, I’d love to hear it.
