Back to School Tips from Early Childhood Director, Gordon School and American Red Cross

Back to School Tips 2025

by Cendhi Arias Henry, Early Childhood Director at The Gordon School

Henry has worked with hundreds of families as their three, four and five-year-olds transition from summer to school every September. These back-to-school tips are for all families with children entering school this fall.

In my conversations with caregivers, I guide them through what they can expect as they prepare their child for the transition from the slow summer days into the more structured school days. For our younger students, and for any child experiencing a structured school setting for the first time, this transition is particularly significant. It’s not just a big step for the child, but also for the caregivers. A child’s ability to demonstrate readiness to start the school year and adjust to changes in schedule, their daily environment, and the length of the day will depend on many variables.

Some variables that will impact every young child’s experience:

• Is this their first time spending extended time away from family? Or have they already experienced day care or in-home care? These early settings establish routines and patterns that inform how they may separate from a caregiver.
• Each child’s temperament makes a difference. Parents should remember that they know their child better than anyone else does. Use that knowledge to help guide the transition!
• Birth order makes a difference for children who live with siblings. A younger sibling will have learned about the school experience from an older child. Older children may be reluctant to leave their younger siblings behind.
• What is the structure of home life? Two-household families, multi-family households, and/or involvement from extended family all impact a child’s emotional, cognitive, and social development.

Once these variables are considered, what can caregivers do as summer winds down?

1. Connect with the school
   1. Consider the variables listed above, and share what you think is relevant with the team at your child’s new school
   2. Schedule a time to meet with the school director or the classroom teacher

2. Work through some of the unknowns
   1. Visit the new school’s campus and neighborhood the school is in. Try out the playground if it is open! This helps the child have a concrete sense of where they will be.
   2. Remind your child about where you will be when they are in school.
   3. Practice talking about feelings and be sure your child knows that anxiety can be a normal and healthy response.

3. Prepare for the big day
   1. Add a bit more structure and predictability to your days
   2. Gradually introduce a more consistent bedtime nap schedule
   3. Do some practice runs of the morning routines
   4. Get everyone excited by doing a special countdown towards the first day
   5. Read relevant books. Some suggestions:
      1. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
      2. This is a School by John Schu

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From the American Red Cross:

As you shop for those last-minute notebooks and markers, don’t forget one of the most important items on your list: Making sure your student knows how to stay safe as they head back to school.

Whether they’ll be getting to school by car, bus, bike or on foot, take a moment to review our back-to-school safety checklist to ensure you’re both on the same page when it comes to staying safe and healthy.

1. If your student is younger or going to school for the first time, teach them:

• Their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 911.
• Not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.

2. If your child walks to school, teach them to:

• Walk on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
• Stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming.
• Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals and stay in the crosswalk.
• Never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.

3. If your student takes the bus to school, teach them to:

• Get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive.
• Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver or attendant has instructed them to get on. And only board their bus, never an alternate one.
• Stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.

4. If your student rides their bike to school, teach them to:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Ride on the right in the same direction as the traffic is going.

5. If you drive your child to school, teach them to:

• Always wear a seat belt. Younger children should use car seats or booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits properly (typically for children ages 8-12 and over 4’9”), and ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

And, 6. If you have a teenager driving to school, make sure they:

• Use seat belts.
• Don’t use their cell phone to text or make calls and avoid eating or drinking while driving