A water bottle packed by the door. A backpack packed and re-packed. A few butterflies about finding the right classroom. These familiar moments are just around the corner as families across Renfrew County prepare for school to start.
Back-to-school goes smoother when families and schools work together, and a few small steps at home can make a big difference.
Here are practical, expert-backed strategies from School Mental Health Ontario to help your family prepare.
Focus on Family Wellness First. Kids pick up on the energy around them. Taking care of your own well-being as a parent or caregiver is one of the best ways to help your child feel grounded.
Talk with your child about what to expect. Ask about their worries, listen closely, and help them remember the parts of school they love, like seeing friends or getting back to sports and arts.
Re-establish routines early: Moving back to a school-year schedule before the first day reduces stress for the whole family.
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Shift sleep schedules: Move bedtimes and wake-up times earlier over the next two weeks.
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Set regular meal times: Line up breakfast, lunch and snack times with the school day.
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Prep the night before: Lay out clothes and pack backpacks in the evening to keep mornings calm.
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Keep screens out of routines: Turn off devices during breakfast and bedtime.
Support an Anxious Child: If your child feels nervous about returning to class, validate their feelings instead of brushing them off. Remind them it is completely normal to feel this way.
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Ask what has helped them feel better when they worried in the past.
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Walk or drive the route to school together, or practice walking up to the front doors.
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Work through specific worries together, like finding their new desk or spotting friends on the playground.
Prioritize Sleep and Manage Screen Time. Sleep affects learning, mood, and daily attendance from Kindergarten through Grade 12. School Mental Health Ontario recommends these simple sleep habits:
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Keep wake-up times and bedtimes the same every day, including weekends.
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Turn off all screens at least one hour before bed.
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Dim the lights in the evening. Try reading or background sounds like white or brown noise.
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Tidy bedroom spaces before bed to help settle a busy mind.
Canada's screen time guidelines recommend under two hours of recreational screen use a day for youth aged five to 17. If screen use gets in the way of sleep, outdoor play or mood, try setting a shared family goal around limits.
We are excited to welcome everyone to a new year of learning and growth.
Here are some more tips from School Mental Health Ontario:
How to help your child have a mentally healthy return to school:
https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/How-to-help-your-child-have-a-mentally-healthy-return-to-school.pdf
Tips for building a mentally healthy nighttime routine:
https://smho-smso.ca/tips-for-building-a-mentally-healthy-nighttime-routine/
Helping your child manage digital technology:
https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Helping-your-child-manage-digital-technology.pdf
RCDSB staff and teachers look forward to welcoming students and their parents on the first day of the 2026-27 school year on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. School offices will be open for assistance on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.