Back-to-school season is often a hectic time for families. Shuffling schedules to accommodate new routines, saying goodbye to summer friends and activities, having to acquire classroom supplies … all of these can contribute to heightened levels of stress and anxiety for children and caregivers. Minimizing this stress can help set kids up for success all year long by giving them a firm launching pad of positivity as they navigate new environments.

Helping Children Adjust

There are a number of proactive ways to help children make the transition from summer vacation to the school year. Here are just a few:

• Stimulate enthusiasm. A positive mindset often leads to positive outcomes. Caregivers can help kids get excited by demonstrating their own excitement and interest. Asking questions like “What class or teacher are you most excited for?” or “Who haven’t you seen this summer that you are excited to see when school starts?” reinforces the positive aspects of going back to school and gives them something to look forward to.
• Re-start school bedtime routines early. Routines are critical for child development, but bedtimes often shift a little over the summer. Easing children back into a school bedtime schedule ahead of time by putting them to bed a little earlier and getting them up a little sooner can lead to lower stress levels when school is officially in session.
• Ease back into schoolwork. If you have not been doing specific, school-like assignments during the summer, now is a great time to start. For example, you can give a reading-age child a short book to read. After they are done, have them tell you about the story and what it means to them.
• Connect with the school staff and peers. Making early contact with people who children will encounter at school establishes familiarity, easing anxiety and forming meaningful connections. Many schools host events before the year begins that provide the opportunity to meet staff and explore the facilities in a low-pressure setting.
• Talk it out. It is normal to have worries about new situations. Encourage an open dialogue with your kids to discuss any concerns. Together, you can discuss strategies for dealing with these feelings.

Support for Caregivers

Caregivers navigating the needs of multiple children and having to pay for all that goes with a new academic year can compound back-to-school stress. When dealing with excessive anxiety, support networks take on increased importance.

Support comes in many forms. The hands-on help of family members and friends is often a crucial component, but sometimes this is not enough. In these cases, community organizations can be a source of additional assistance.

Children Trust Michigan’s (CTM’s) network of Prevention Partners is a valuable resource to parents in times of need. We have more than 100 partners who cover each of Michigan’s 83 counties — including 11 dedicated Family Resource Centers that directly offer concrete supports.

Learn more about the network here.

P.S. Remember CTM When You Renew!

August is the most common birth month in the U.S. which, in Michigan, means plenty of people renewing car registrations. That’s usually not considered an exciting chore, but it is an opportunity to advance the mission of prevention.

You can showcase your support for Michigan kids by purchasing a specialty CTM license plate. Featuring our colorful pinwheel logo, this unique plate catches plenty of eyes, raising awareness as well as funds. You can (literally) drive change everywhere you go!

Each plate purchase contributes directly to safer communities for Michigan children. Request a plate at any Michigan Secretary of State office, directly through the SOS online services portal, by mailing a fundraising plate order form   or when buying a new vehicle at a Michigan dealership. Plates cost $35, with $25 going directly to CTM. Each renewal cycle donates an additional $10 to CTM.

August 2025