MENDOCINO CO., 8/14/26 — The first day of school is right around the corner for Mendocino County schools, time to transition from the slow days of summer to the busy bustle of school routines and activities. School is sure to bring excitement for many as well as anxiety about the upcoming school year. Whether your child is just entering school or a returning student, there are multiple ways to prepare your child for a smooth transition.
If your child is feeling nervous, that’s expected, but it doesn’t mean you need to fix it. Acknowledgement is one step in “normalizing” your child’s fears. Listening can show your child you are in tune with their feelings instead of shrugging them off.
Alicia Bainbridge, a Ukiah school counselor and a mother of two, describes actions to help kids dealing with a mix of emotions. She says, “On the homefront, parents and caregivers can support their children by first meeting them where they are, listening without giving advice, and validating their feelings.”
If kids feel strain, she advises to work on “calming their bodies by practicing slow breathing, tightening their muscles and releasing, going for a walk, or picking a color and counting how many times they see it in the room.” Once your child is calm, she suggests discussing things that could go well or things they could look forward to.
Reading books is a great way to get your child interested in school and can also help you establish a nightly routine that encourages a lifelong love of reading. Sue Hardwick, a Ukiah-based TK teacher, reads her class The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, a story about a raccoon whose mom kisses his hand to ease his nerves, telling him to take her kiss with him wherever he goes.“I like this book because when kids have a hard time leaving their parents, I tell them to do the same,” Hardwick says.
Hardwick’s colleague, Jeanne Gomez, a kindergarten teacher, describes her favorite read-aloud, The Pigeon HAS to go to School!, by Mo Williams. “It addresses the worries that students have when they go to school, especially for the first time,” she says. “Just like the pigeon, ‘The unknown stresses me out, dude.’ This book validates those feelings and shows how to manage them.”
Graham, a 4th grade student in Ukiah, feels better prepared when his mom buys him new clothes. “Reading also helps,” he says. “I’m nervous about state testing, but I’m excited for science camp.”
Talking to your child about anticipated events and upcoming field trips can build excitement and compress anxiety. Graham’s sister, Olivia, a 7th grader, looks forward to seeing friends and attending school dances. “What helps me prepare is staying in touch with friends, reading books, and getting back on a school sleep schedule,” she says.
Second grader Emily, while excited to see her friends and meet her new teacher, notes that “knowing she is not alone and can always talk to people” helps her deal with back-to-school jitters. Her brother, Jason, an 8th grader, is nervous about upcoming homework and schoolwork: “I’m scared it’s going to be harder than last year,” he says. He is motivated to do well despite his fears: “I want to get a good job and get good grades.”
These students bring up great pointers for preparing for school, from calming methods to creating a sleep schedule. Though it can be challenging, research shows it is better to have consistent nighttime routines and sleep schedules. This can be tough for adolescents, but turning off all electronics, even homework-related, at least an hour before bed is a good recipe for a healthy dose of nightly rest. To find out more about establishing routines for your teen, visit the Child Mind Institute’s “Complete Guide to Teenagers and Sleep” at childmind.org.
Many schools offer orientations, especially if your child is entering TK or kindergarten. Contact the school’s administration office to find out more. Meeting teachers, touring the site, and building excitement and positivity around what will happen is a great way to ease the transition. Point out areas on campus that connect them to you: “When I was in kindergarten, I loved the swings,” or, “This is where I’ll pick you up at the end of each day.” For middle and high schoolers, orientations help students better know their schedules, as well as give an opportunity to see friends and meet teachers.
Another way to increase motivation and excitement is to get your child involved in extracurricular activities. Kids stay active and engaged when involved in school sports and city league teams. Ukiah’s SPACE theater offers a variety of dance, theater, music and art classes. UUSD, Redwood Collegiate Academy, and Sequoia Career Academy can provide funding for students to attend SPACE. The Medium Art Center in Ukiah also offers workshops and classes for youth.
Spending time with your child doing something they love will also provide motivation. Celebrating the end of the week and creating daily designated time with your child will pave pathways to a positive start of the new school year and beyond.
Heather Martin teaches kindergarten at Frank Zeek Elementary School, in Ukiah, Calif.