How to battle back to school blues

TOLEDO, Ohio — August is officially here, so the end of summer vacation countdown has begun. Whether you’re a parent trying to rally the household, or a student dreading that first bell, one thing is clear: school is coming. 

To help ease the transition from laid-back summer days to structured school schedules, Bright Spot Families Practice Child Psychologist, Dr. Andrea Mata said the key is mental preparation.

“It’s getting over the vacation slump and getting ready for the school year,” said Mata, “We’ve got to mentally prepare.”

The question of how to have the family shift gears smoothly, is answered with Mata’s three practical tips:

Mata suggested squeezing in a quick family vacation before school starts.

“We’re going on a vacation before school starts just to kind of get it in, get connected as a family—go on that last hurrah,” she said. 

Even a day trip can help make the summer feel complete and give kids one more positive memory before returning to routine.

“As soon as you can, get going into a routine—ideally at least a week before school starts,”  Mata said. 

This includes consistent wake-up and bedtime schedules, as well as running through morning tasks like packing lunches or organizing backpacks. It’s all part of getting ahead of the chaos to help reduce the anxiety and make the first week of school feel less jarring.

Mata emphasized the importance of having something to look forward to beyond just the academic year. 

“Plan something fun in the fall so that it’s not just the dread of going back to school,” she said. Adding how this could be a fall festival, weekend trip, or even enrolling in a new extracurricular activity.

One of the other things to keep an eye on, said Mata, is handling mixed emotions. A household with kids of different ages, so maybe a younger child is thrilled, while a high schooler is less than thrilled. She said the key is to meet each child where they are.

“Go with the little one and be super excited,” she said. “Then with the high schooler, be like, ‘OK, what can we do to make school more exciting for you?’”

This could mean letting them explore new opportunities, like joining a club or taking a photography class they’ve always wanted to try. Back-to-school season may not be everyone’s favorite time, but  Mata said  shifting your mindset makes a difference.

“It is what it is. We’re not going to change it,” she said. “Your little one’s not going to not go to school, and your high schooler’s not going to not go to school—because that leads to a lot of bad things no one wants.”

So instead of dragging your feet into the school year, Mata encouraged families to take control, get excited, and help each other see the bright side.