Back-to-school tips for newcomers
5 tips to ease your kids’ transition to school in Canada
School is back in session, and with it comes excitement and often anxiety. As an immigrant parent in Canada, you may have just as many questions and jitters as your kids!
Here are five tips to help you both adjust to the back-to-school return.
1. Get enough sleep
With the long summer days, your kids probably have been staying up later than normal. To make sure your kids wake up easily now that school has begun, gradually adjust their bedtime to make sure they get enough sleep. Shoot for 10 hours of sleep for elementary school kids, and eight or nine hours for high schoolers, according to medical research.
2. Plan and prepare for school
Make your mornings less stressful by preparing for the school day the night before. Whether that means preparing lunch boxes (with healthy lunch options!), packing backpacks or choosing outfits before you go to bed, you will find getting ready for school much easier without having to make too many decisions in the morning.
3. Talk about any school concerns
If your kids are anxious about starting at a new school or grade, talk to them about it and try to alleviate their fears. Some kids take longer to transition and feel comfortable, so don’t be afraid to talk to the teacher about your child needing extra support, including English language support, or support in making new friends.
If you have questions or concerns about school yourself, don’t hesitate to talk to your children’s teacher or school settlement worker about them.
Also, make sure you’re receiving — and reading — any newsletters or other communication from your school. Often, a lot of your questions will be answered there already, and you’ll feel more informed and confident about what’s happening at the school.
4. Supplies, fees and more
You have probably already purchased school supplies over the summer, but be aware that you may be asked for additional supplies, like indoor shoes, or to pay some small activity fees after school starts.
Most schools also have parent advisory councils (PACs) that fundraise or organize hot lunch programs, which are generally optional. Getting involved in PACs are also a great way to learn more about the school and meet other parents.
5. Help with homework and reading
Kids may bring homework or projects to do at home. In addition to helping them with those, make an effort to read with them consistently — a book before bed works great! — to improve their literacy. If you’re also learning English, it will help you, too.