Helping Kids Navigate Back-to-School Season
Easing Worries, Planning for Safety and Celebrating New Beginnings
The start of a new school year is a milestone moment for kids. It’s not always easy to navigate, and it can be an especially challenging time for kids and families living at Ernestine’s or supported through our outreach programs.
But through engaging activities, caring support and celebratory events, our Child & Youth program is helping kids manage all the ups and downs of the back-to-school season, says Anna Morgan, manager of Programs and Services at Ernestine’s. Here’s a look at how we help set kids up for a good school year.
Bridging the End-of-Summer Gap
While our Child & Youth Program helps families access summer camps, there’s often a weeklong gap between the end of camps and the start of school. So, in addition to our scheduled group activities for kids on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and a new youth group on Wednesday evenings, our staff plans a fun-filled week of activities for kids.
To help families soak up the last days of summer, we also plan a special outing during the last week of August. Last year we took families to a local water park, and this year we’re planning to visit a farm.
Another important part of our Child & Youth programming at this time of year is helping families get back into a routine. “We plan activities to support the transition into the new school year,” Anna explains, adding that this routine has a strong positive impact.
Easing Anxieties for a Positive Start
As September approaches, our programming increasingly focuses on age-appropriate activities that help kids prepare for the new school year and navigate transitions like changing schools.
With younger kids, staff might read a story like Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes, which explores a little mouse’s many worries—including a whole bunch of what-ifs related to starting school. This allows us to start a conversation with kids about common fears and worries they might have about starting at a new school, and then talk about the positive side of new beginnings, says Anna.
Role-playing, either one-on-one or during group activities, can also help kids manage anxieties. “It could be practicing scenarios, with kids introducing themselves in school, making new friends, or asking for help from a teacher,” explains Anna.
Talking About Safety Planning
We are committed to involving kids in their safety planning, in age-appropriate ways, and this includes talking about safety as they head back to school.
Our discussions might explore not talking to strangers, or being aware of their surroundings. We’ll also talk about who kids can safely talk with about where they are staying (and who might be an unsafe person to share that information with). We also stress the importance of not posting anything on social media that would identify where the shelter is located.
Our good relationships with local schools also support our planning. “If there's any safety planning concerns that need to involve the school, we work with them,” says Anna. “Sometimes it's just ensuring that only a specific parent can pick up the kids.”
The work we do in safety planning around the start of the school year helps kids feel safe and supported, and ensures they have someone to talk with about any fears they may have.
Celebrating Back-to-School with a BBQ
At the end of August, we celebrate the start of the school year with a barbecue for families staying at the shelter and supported by our outreach programs.
In addition to serving up great food, we organize activities and games, and rent a bouncy castle—a big hit with the kids! But this annual event is so much more than fun and games.
“When people have left violent or unstable environments, it’s really important that you have opportunities to celebrate different milestones,” says Anna. “For our outreach community, just getting a time to connect with other parents and families is something they really look forward to. It breaks the social isolation that a lot of folks are experiencing.”
Ensuring Kids Have What They Need for School
The start of a new school year comes with a list of must-haves, and we work with families to ensure the kids we support have the things they need.
Generous donations allow us to provide kids with a backpack filled with school essentials. While many people reach out to ask about donating kids’ clothes or shoes, a Walmart or Visa gift card is more practical given our limited storage space and ever-changing needs. Plus, gift cards can be used to help cover the cost of school uniforms for kids who attend a Catholic school.
Most importantly, gift cards are also meaningful for families. “It gives people the dignity and autonomy to go out and purchase things for their kids,” Anna says. This may be a new outfit, a pair of running shoes, or even nourishing lunch foods for our outreach clients. “We do have a food bank, but it doesn't cover everything,” Anna shares. “A gift card can make sure they have good school snacks for their child—to provide for those basic needs.”
You can help us give kids a strong start this school year. Please reach out to emily@ernestines.ca to find out what we need most today.