5 back to school tips for parents

Help your teen with going back to school

Going back to school can be a challenging time for both parents and teens. As summer ends and the school year begins, we’re sure you’re keen to support your child during this period of adjustment. 

Here are our top tips, informed by what we’ve learned teens using the luna app struggle with the most, to help you through this transition.

1. Establish a routine to prepare them for the changes

Help your teen establish a daily routine ahead of time which can develop into a healthy habit, for example when they eat, go to sleep, do their homework/tasks. Consistency can really help to give them a sense of stability. 

Make sure that your teen also has downtime as part of this schedule – rest and self-care are important for their cognitive function and overall wellbeing. Try to also encourage your teen to wind down at least an hour before bed by turning off electronic devices and engaging in relaxing activities like reading, meditation, or organising their space so their sleep isn’t disrupted.

luna tip: if they struggle with following this routine, ask them what would motivate them and try to find a compromise. For example, if playing games motivates them, then perhaps you could offer that as a reward once they’ve completed their tasks for the day – at least an hour before bed, so the blue light doesn’t disrupt their sleep.

2. Create a study space for when they go back to school

Designate a specific place at home for your teen to focus on their homework for when they start school – a dedicated study area can help to improve concentration and productivity.

luna tip: choose a spot away from the main flow of household traffic, if at all possible, to minimise interruptions. Make sure this space is free from distractions like TV or loud noises, and if there isn’t as much space then getting noise-cancelling headphones can help.

3. Encourage open communication so they come to you with back to school worries

Talk with your teen about any worries they might have about going back to school – try to focus as much on social aspects as you do education, as teens on luna have voted “fitting in” as the number 1 reason they’re worried about going back to school. 

luna tip: schedule a regular time, such as a weekly walk or car ride, to check in with your teen about their day. Being on the move can stop things from feeling too high pressure and can help your teen open up. Then, when they speak to you, actively listen by nodding and summarising what they’ve said back to them to show you’re paying attention.

4. Give them tools to stay organised when back at school

From speaking with lots of parents ourselves, we’ve learned that a huge concern for many of you is how to get your teen to manage their own time and homework – as the mental load on parents to manage this can be a lot.

In this case, it can help to supply your teens with tools that can help them keep track – whether that’s a paper planner, a whiteboard, or subscriptions to apps that can remind them and keep them on track.

luna tip: it might help them if the aesthetic is something they love or can customise – so ask them what colours, designs or brands they’re into to help incentivise them to use it. Tools like Notion or Trello can be helpful for managing schedules and homework and have creative options like colour coding and different themes.

5. Prepare them for the changes that may come when back at school

Talk with them about any challenges going back to school might bring and think about ways to address them. Try not to assume the challenges you went through are the same – for example, teens of today are digital natives, which means much of their socialisation and social struggles can happen behind “closed doors” and be much harder to manage as a parent. Making a teen aware of your wish to understand and learn from their perspective can help them feel more brave and mature about opening up – more on how to help a teen with their mental health here.

Top tip: try an open conversation starter, like “what do you think might be difficult this year? I’d love to understand where your head’s at as I know it may have been different for me.”

Finally, you’re really not alone in this journey – luna’s here to help!

Our app, luna, has dedicated advice on this topic which can help them feel more empowered through adolescence.

You can think of luna as a modern, digital approach to wellbeing – it’s cost-effective, verified by doctors and safeguarding experts, and has a direct line into the biggest concerns facing teens today – so it’s actually addressing what they need advice on, when they need it.

If you’ve been looking for an antidote to the misinformation and negativity shared on social media or forums, you can get luna for your teen via our luna premium page for the price of a coffee each month or manage their subscription by downloading luna yourself and signing up as a parent (it's "we are luna" in app stores).