BACK TO SCHOOL WITH THE BALANCE PROJECT
By Katie Dello Stritto
Veteran Educator, Current Principal, Mom of 2 and TBP National ‘Balance In School’ lead
Hello Balance Project Community! 👋
As a kid, I'd sneak into my mom's room the night before school and find her (a teacher!) folding laundry with the same nervous-excited energy I had as a student. It's a good reminder that everyone, teachers included, goes into this season with mixed emotions. This is all normal and there are things we can do to help ease the transition for everyone. See below for some of my time-tested tips that you can try!
Pro-Tips for a Smooth (and balanced!) Transition:
Nighttime Prep: Choose clothes the night before to ease morning chaos. Start amending nighttime routines 1-2 weeks in advance by walking back bedtimes each night.
Plan for Rest: The first week is exhausting! Keep your first Friday night and weekend “back” flexible to allow everyone some much-needed downtime.
Protect Unstructured Time: When finalizing your weekly plan, do not be afraid to protect unscheduled time instead of filling every free moment. This down time is critical for our kids' development. During this down time, encourage kids to solve their own boredom without reaching for technology. It might be hard at first, but will get easier!
Build Responsibility: Even our youngest students can pack their backpacks. Have your kids count their items before they leave for school. This is a great way for them to remember they had a water bottle, lunchbox and sweatshirt that day that they’re responsible for keeping track of.
Independent Travel: Consider if your child is ready to travel independently to/from school or to/from a friend’s house or an after-school activity. If so, practice these routes and discuss how to handle common challenges to empower children with strategies for navigating on their own.
Be Life/Tech Mindful: Now is also a great time to reset family norms. Use the Life/Tech Family Planning Guide to help navigate the conversation - or, simply pick 1-2 ways that you would like to improve your intentional life/tech mindfulness in your home.
Independence Building by Age:
Kindergarten-2nd: Focus on packing their own bags to build autonomy & healthy habits.
Upper Elementary: Create a designated, distraction-free workspace where they are responsible for their own assignments throughout the week. Allow them the space to forget their homework or make a mistake without coming to the rescue.
Middle & High School: Prioritize time management. Encourage them to create personal checklists and schedules to manage their own activities and assignments.
Remember: what works for one family might not work for another. Understanding your child’s unique strengths and social-emotional needsis the best way to drive a plan that works for you!
Warmly,
Katie
P.S. You've probably noticed more conversation in the media lately about technology's place in the classroom—and we know this is on your mind! We believe that real change has to be collaborative, not confrontational, built alongside educators and school leadership rather than around them. That's the approach we're bringing to our "Balance in School" program, and we'll share more details with you on this next month. For now, though, let's keep our focus where it belongs this time of year: you, your families, and finding your footing in your new routines!
