{"id":1376,"date":"2024-08-27T13:44:36","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T17:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/?p=1376"},"modified":"2024-08-27T13:44:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T17:44:36","slug":"how-to-establish-healthy-transition-routines-at-the-start-of-a-new-school-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/27\/how-to-establish-healthy-transition-routines-at-the-start-of-a-new-school-year\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Establish Healthy Transition Routines at the Start of a New School Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Development<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Montessori schools, we often refer to Head Teachers as \u201cGuides\u201d. The primary role of a Montessori Guide is to act as a role model for the children in her or his care. These Guides, or Head Teachers, are trained to observe and follow the needs of each child, as the needs look different for everyone, and will most certainly change over time. In a nurturing and Prepared Montessori Environment, the goal is to ignite each child\u2019s inner flame and his or her love of learning, while allowing children to become independent citizens of the world. Children will begin to feel a sense of belonging and that they matter, they are needed, and they make a difference to the world and those around them. Together, we establish and create a community where parents, children, and teachers form trusting relationships and build a foundation where everyone can feel safe, loved, and cared for. We welcome our families on this wonderful lifelong journey of learning that starts here at The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As our families are preparing to return to school, or to begin with us for the first time, we wanted to offer a few tips to help make the start of the new school year as successful as possible for your children and your families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read books.<\/em><\/strong> A wonderful book that we recommend is The Kissing Hand<\/em> by Audrey Penn. This book gives just one example of how to establish a special ritual with your child, reminding your child that you are always nearby and that you love her or him unconditionally. For an audio version of the book, you may want to check out the YouTube video at  https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nWRV6Tmn5gU<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your morning routine positive<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em>Children are experts at sensing what their parents are feeling. So, even though you may be a bit anxious yourself, try to stay positive while you and your child are getting ready for school in the morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your school drop-off\/goodbye brief.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Once at school, keep your goodbye short and positive and don\u2019t linger, as this will only make it harder for both your child and you. Making positive statements such as, \u201cI can\u2019t wait to hear all about your day\u201d, \u201cI love you\u201d, and \u201cI will be back soon\u201d, help your child understand that you are comfortable with the school and know that he or she will be safe there.\u00a0Trust your child\u2019s teacher<\/em>s<\/strong>\u00a0and know that your son or daughter is in the hands of other loving, caring adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be on time each day.<\/em><\/strong> It is much more challenging for a child to enter a classroom when everyone else has already settled in and is busy working. Children acclimate better to a new school routine when they are entering the classroom during greeting time along with all the other children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encourage your child to walk independently into and through the school<\/em><\/strong>. Do not carry your child into school, and allow extra time for your child to hang up his or her backpack, coat, lunchbox, etc. Children are more than capable of doing this and when doing this on their own, it helps to foster independence. Practice patience <\/em><\/strong>and allow that extra time to \u201cfollow the child\u2019s\u201d lead and pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay consistent<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>with the same routine every day. If your child attends school three days a week, the transition may take a little longer than that of a child that attends five days, where each weekday looks the same. You should allow 6-8 weeks with some ups and downs for your child to get used to the new routines. Remember\u2026 a long weekend or an illness that necessitates an absence from school often causes a child to regress and makes them start all over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicate with your child\u2019s Head Teacher.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Remember that we are on this path together. Be open to communicate your challenges and needs with your child\u2019s Head Teacher. Share observations and reflections and discuss together a plan\/strategy for drop-off if your child needs more support. Discuss this privately with the Head Teacher and not in front of your child. Then stick to the plan and you will see great results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support your child as needed<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em>Add a picture of your family to your child\u2019s backpack that can be there as a reminder that family is always close by. Or maybe add a favorite stuffed animal or blanket that will remain in the backpack all day, as the child learns to leave attachments behind and enter through the classroom door independently on his or her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to your child.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>If your child is having a challenging time, it\u2019s important to acknowledge those feelings with phrases such as, \u201cI know you feel sad when I\u2019m leaving, but I also know that you will have a great time and I will be back very soon.\u201d Avoid bribery such as, \u201cIf you go to school, I will bring a cookie or a sticker for you at pick-up\u201d, as your child will then start to rely on external rewards in order to go to school. Remember\u2026 your child is learning to be a part of society and to adjust to daily routines; not unlike the way parents go to work every day. Encouraging phrases like, \u201cYou must feel so proud of yourself\u201d and \u201cYou are amazing and I can\u2019t wait to hear about your day\u201d, will help give your child an inner satisfaction that will lead to feeling good about him or herself rather than trying to please mom or dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn how you can be involved in the MCA Community.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Showing your child that you are involved in the school community allows your child to see that mom and dad can learn and have fun too! Attend our Parent Workshops, participate in the Parent Book Club, join us for Harvest Family Fun Day, and drop in for our Coffee Mornings. Speak to your child\u2019s Head Teacher once everyone has settled into the year to learn about the possibility of visiting the classroom to share something from your culture, a recent trip abroad, your profession, or even to read a book to the students.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some children will walk through the MCA doors with ease and transition into the new school routines quickly. For other children, the transition may take some time. Therefore, it\u2019s important to know how you can help to make this transition as smooth as possible in a supportive way that will ultimately help your child. Most of the time, it\u2019s harder for the parents to say goodbye than it is for the children. So, a routine that looks the same every day is beneficial for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We encourage you, as parents, to embrace this special journey and to take the time to observe how you can encourage opportunities of independence in your child while taking a step back and remembering Maria Montessori\u2019s quote\u2026\u00a0\u201cHelp me to help myself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Development In Montessori schools, we often refer to Head Teachers as \u201cGuides\u201d. The primary role of a Montessori Guide is to act as a role model for the children in her or his care. These Guides, or Head Teachers, are trained to observe and follow the needs of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1377,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[274,28,261,69,3,87,272,273,252,1],"tags":[121,10,4,144,259,147,9,294,260],"coauthors":[16],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/The_Kissing_Hand_by_Audrey_Penn.jpeg?fit=272%2C367&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7icff-mc","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1414,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/08\/independence-in-the-early-childhood-montessori-classroom\/","url_meta":{"origin":1376,"position":0},"title":"Independence in the Early Childhood Montessori Classroom","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"January 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Development \u201cHow does he achieve this independence? He does it by means of a continuous activity.How does he become free? By means of constant effort\u2026Independence is not a static condition; it is a continuous conquest,and in order to reach not only freedom, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care of Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Care of Environment","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/care-of-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Independence6.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1267,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/25\/practical-life-for-life-how-montessori-students-learn-to-care-for-themselves-and-the-world-around-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":1376,"position":1},"title":"Practical Life for Life: How Montessori Students Learn to Care for Themselves and the World Around Them","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"March 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jacqueline Pisciotto, Early Childhood Head Teacherand Becky Weaver, Early Childhood Head Teacher \u201cIt is interesting to notice that where life is simple and natural and where the children participate in the adult\u2019s life, they are calm and happy.\u201d ~\u00a0Maria Montessori Cleaning mirror work \u201cSo, my daughter said she has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care of Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Care of Environment","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/care-of-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/PL-Cover-Pic.jpg?fit=408%2C304&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":723,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/06\/a-matter-of-trust\/","url_meta":{"origin":1376,"position":2},"title":"A Matter of Trust","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"September 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alex Chiu Trust. 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Now, as September is upon us, it is time take a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Trust-image-from-pixabay-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":269,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/11\/five-questions-to-ask-at-a-preschool-open-house\/","url_meta":{"origin":1376,"position":3},"title":"Five Questions to Ask at a Preschool Open House (Repost from October 2016)","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"January 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As this is a common time of year for families to begin their preschool search for the next school year, we would like to once again share with you some pointers when attending a preschool Open House. 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They are looking for the right size, color, and fit. Or they are trying to find something unique and one-of-a-kind. 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