Preparing for Back To School: Supporting Those Returning to the Classroom

With August comes the beginning of back to school season, an exciting and nerve wracking time for students of all ages, and sometimes parents too. A new school year offers opportunities for personal growth and helps students establish a routine for learning, but it can also be stressful. Not all students are able to get back to school supplies or clothes they need due to financial struggles or complications. This is one of the main reasons why it’s important to support students in and outside of your community, so everyone can feel equipped and empowered to further their education.

Back to School Clothes & Supplies

One great way to support students is to donate clothing and back to school supplies to schools or drives in your community. Teachers typically try to provide as many supplies as they can, but it can add up quickly. Supporting teachers by donating to their classrooms with items such as pencils, notebooks, calculators, etc. in turn helps the students who may need these tools to learn. Back to school clothes, however, fall on the shoulders of parents, who may or may not be able to afford it. Often at this time of year, drives for back to school clothes are held to provide for children in need. Whether they’ve outgrown their previous school clothing or have worn it out, donation drives and charity shops help in this regard. Consider cleaning out you or your children's closets and finding items in good condition to donate. If you’re able, you can also buy new clothing to donate or give to a student you know or have helped before.

Establish a Routine

Another way to help children as they reacclimate to going to school is to establish a routine. From waking up and going to bed at the same time to picking out an outfit and packing lunch each evening, having a routine creates a sense of normalcy. School is not every child’s favorite, so including a sport or activity they enjoy in this routine can help them adjust to their new normal. Especially when moving to a new school or a stressful class schedule, helping your child by establishing consistent routines can make them better equipped to handle the newness they face. 

Within this routine, you can also share your best study habits so as tests start coming up, kids already know and are comfortable with studying and have it in their routine. 

Be a Youth Mentor 

If you don’t personally have children but enjoy interacting with them or would like to connect with young people, consider becoming a youth mentor. Maybe you’ve dealt with similar situations or struggles and have advice. Maybe you played the same sport growing up. Maybe you want to make sure a child in your community has someone to turn to. Whichever motivation fits you, empowering youth through a mentoring program can help kids stay in school and out of trouble. Back to school time is a great opportunity to start because you can potentially help with school supplies, clothing, and even establish a routine that you’re a part of. Youth mentoring programs near you, like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, provide the opening to impact youth in your community. 

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Ready to become a youth mentor or know a young person who could benefit from mentorship? Learn more about these mentoring opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada.

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