Back-to-School Worries from Parents and Kids

Plus, the one thing to remember to say to your child on the first day of school. Learn better. Play smarter. | [View this email in your browser]( Parenting made simpler. Written by experts. Designed for intentional parents. Be a Plinkit Pro Thank you for reading. This newsletter is made possible through Plinkit Pro membership support. Please consider being a [PLINKIT PRO]( if you aren't already, to enjoy access to all our expert guidance. Your support is how we keep things going. Or, [email us](mailto:hello@myplinkit.com) to find out how your entire school or workplace can benefit from [PLINKIT PRO.]( [BE A PLINKIT PRO]( What do parents and kids worry most about back-to-school? We recently hosted a series of roundtables among parents and children to learn, "What are you worried about when it comes to back-to-school?" From preschool to elementary school, we heard two recurring worries among parents: - "Will my child make friends?" - "Will my child be able to do ___ on their own?" Then, we asked their children the same question, and their worries were entirely different! - "What if my teacher isn’t 'nice'?" - "What if I don’t remember to do what I’m supposed to do?" - "What if school is too hard?" - "What if they don’t have things I like?" - "Who will I sit next to at snack and lunch?" - "What if I’m not good at making friends?" - "What if I’m late?" - "What if I forget where the bathroom is?" Key takeaway: There's a lot to worry and wonder about at the start of the school year! But, if there’s one thing to get right amidst the worrying, it's to say this essential phrase when you say goodbye: "I love you, you can do hard things and I'll see you again." Of all the things to remember for back-to-school, this one is core for us. (It's one of our all-time favorite pieces of advice from seasoned teacher Saeda Fuller.) Hearing this simple phrase from you when you say goodbye can make all the difference to your child, especially at the start of the school year when things may feel tricky. Yet, it's so easy to forget to say when you're scrambling to get out the door and carrying the weight of many worries. But give it a try, and you might be surprised at how your child hangs onto your words. Keep reading below to learn why this phrase is so helpful and for more practical transition strategies (that you can also share with other caregivers in your child’s life). Whether you have a preschooler, kindergartener or school-aged child, our foundational guidance on how children learn is timeless. If you're interested in bringing our Plinkit Pro Roundtables to your schools, please [email us to learn more.](mailto:hello@myplinkit.com) One final thought: expect your child to be very tired during their first month of school. As Plinkit contributor and reknowned teacher Doug Zesiger of Stinky Tales reminds us: "Be kind to them - they’ll be working very hard." [READ MORE BACK-TO-SCHOOL ESSENTIALS]( LEARN + DO [How to Navigate a Healthy Parent/Child Separation]( The fundamental Do’s and Don’t’s to prepare your child for a healthy separation so that they experience less emotional upset and challenging behavior - all in a printable table. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2020%2F09%2Fparent-child-separation-anxiety-goodbye-routine-preschool%2F) [Share]( LEARN + DO [Answers to Common Questions on Parent/Child Separation]( From "How long is it OK for my child to cry?" to "What should I do if my child is screaming?" - our answers to commonly asked questions on this often-emotional experience. 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[READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2021%2F06%2Fchildhood-anxiety-worry-anxious-behavior-coping-skills-for-your-child%2F) [Share]( Learn better. Play smarter. [EXPLORE OUR TOPICS]( FOLLOW US: If you liked what you read, FORWARD to a friend! Our content is written in partnership with the best child development experts. No ads. No sponsored recommendations. Just original content. This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Plinkit · Parenting made simpler. · Written by experts. Designed for intentional parents and teachers. 049712 · Singapore [Mailchimp Email Marketing](