Back to school is a busy time for students and parents. While it’s exciting, it can also be overwhelming. It’s common for students to experience a bit of anxiety in the weeks leading up to school. That’s why it’s important to establish a faith-centered routine that will last all year long. Here are a few ways to stay grounded in faith as you prepare for a smooth, productive back-to-school transition:
Begin Each Day With Prayer
One of the most powerful ways to stay connected to God is through prayer. As you and your student prepare for back to school, begin each day with prayer. Ask God for strength, courage and wisdom to guide you through your day. Make this a part of your daily routine as back to school approaches, and plan to continue this routine once school begins. Setting aside time before school for prayer can be especially helpful when your child has a big project or event coming up that they’re nervous about. It’s one of the best ways to start every day on a positive note.
Make Time for Reading Scripture
Whether it’s toward the beginning or end of the day, incorporating time to read the Bible is an important part of any back-to-school routine. Scripture is full of teachings that your child can apply to their day-to-day lives in school. From navigating friendships and serving others to overcoming challenges, God’s word is the ultimate guiding force in your child’s life, and it’s important to help them focus on it.
If you read the Bible in the morning, focus on passages that inspire hope. For example, Psalm 143:8 tells us to remember and trust in God’s unwavering faithfulness each new morning. In the evening, focus on passages that close the day with themes of peace and rest. Especially if your child had a stressful day, read verses like Isaiah 40:29-30, which reminds us that God is with us through every challenge and that He gives us rest even in our most difficult moments.
Create a Sacred Study Space
When it comes to back to school, ensuring your child has a dedicated study space is paramount. Make sure it’s in an undisturbed area of the home, free from distractions. Keep their workspace stocked with plenty of supplies and snacks to prevent them from having to break their focus to grab something they forgot. This is also the perfect area to place faith-inspired items like a cross, rosary beads, a prayer card or a note with their favorite verse. You can even switch the note out with a new Bible verse daily to keep things fresh.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is an important practice for students. By reflecting on their blessings, they stay humble and focused on God in all of their academic endeavors. Encourage your child to practice gratitude at the end of each day. This can be through prayer, journaling or simple conversation. The goal is to form a habit of reflecting on what went well each day, big or small, and thank God for those moments. Challenge them to think of a difficult or stressful event and show gratitude to God for the lesson they learned and the people who helped them. When children are active in their thankfulness to God, they form a mindset focused on growth, which helps them thrive both inside and outside of the classroom.
Tie Responsibilities to Values
Preparing for back to school involves giving your child certain responsibilities. Set up routines and tasks for waking up, bedtime, meals, screen time, homework and chores. Focus on the “why” behind these routines by tying them to important character values, like responsibility and time management. Explain that God created them in His image and that they should always strive to be the best version of themselves to honor Him. Help them understand that this starts with simple actions, like doing chores and homework, and maintaining a positive attitude. Consistency is key, and when children understand the reasons behind their daily responsibilities, they’re often more motivated to continue putting in effort toward them.
Stay Organized and Work as a Team
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 reminds us of the importance of teamwork and community. For any back-to-school routine to be successful, your family needs to stay organized and work together. Try setting out everyone’s outfits for the week and planning meals ahead of time. Consider dividing responsibilities between family members. For example, one person can be responsible for packing lunches while another can be responsible for setting everyone’s backpacks by the front door. Simple routines where everyone plays a small part bring the whole picture together. To keep things organized, try hanging up a chart with the family schedule and everyone’s responsibilities. This provides a quick reference to help everyone stay on the same page.
At St. Charles Borromeo, we want our students to have a smooth and successful back-to-school transition. Our Orlando Catholic school, located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.