Have you ever sent your kid off to class, noticed their bouncing leg the whole car ride and the stress of having to start the year on their own? How about the crying and begging to stay with you at home? The chaos of starting school can open the door for anxieties to take over before you even realize there were any to begin with. Here are SEVEN small actions that take less than 15 minutes that can help your child feel more confident and secure going into this school year! 

• Create an Accomplishment Box so you and your child can start a place where they can be reminded of all their strengths. Anything from certificates to prized art or even report cards can go in this box. Make it a fun craft as well and design the container together, be sure to have plenty glue, paper, markers, and maybe even stickers!
• Set Short & Long Term Goals for the new year to look forward to. Anything you can think of can be made into a goal! Do some brain storming and create a Short Term and Long Term goal chart that you can display, mark each goal as they're met for visual reassurance!
• Embrace Imperfections! Life is not always going to go exactly according to plan. When you model a calm, cool head in stressful situations in front of your child, they are much more likely to replicate that behavior in their own stressed moments. 
• Go Over Expectations for the year. Even with kids who have been in school for quite a while, the transparency is always beneficial. Set clear expectations as the parent on what you need your child to meet, such as homework and report cards, or even household items like dishes and laundry.
• Practice Locker Combinations with your children each year. Some of the easiest ways to fend of anxieties of uncertainty is to practice until your certain! Practice as home on your own spin dial lock, if you don't have one reach out to your child's school or pick one up at your local hardware store.
• Be Curious & Engaging when discussing potential worries about school. Be sure to ask what they're most excited for or what they think their new classroom will look like. A solid conversation about what they may be looking forward to can help many kids feel more confident going into new and unfamiliar situations.
• Tour Their New School before the year starts. Going to Open Houses are very important not just for your child, but you as well. When they tell you about things happening at school, you'll be able to relate and understand easier. This also opens the door for your child to "take the reins" a bit and show you around their school if they're already familiar!

Starting a new school year can come with a lot of unknowns, but it doesn't have to feel overwhelming. A few minutes of preparation, encouragement, and open conversation can go a long way in helping your child feel ready to take on what's ahead. Remember, confidence doesn't happen all at once—it grows through small moments of reassurance, practice, and support. Here's to a new school year filled with new experiences, new accomplishments, and plenty of opportunities to grow!

For even more ideas, tips, and strategies check out the resources linked. 

12 Tips to Raising Confident Kids

Stressed About School? Relax With These Tips

Building Back-to-School Confidence