Back To School 2025 | CP223

Sep 5, 2025

The back-to-school transition can be tough for both kids and parents. It’s all about shifting from relaxed summer vibes to structured school routines. This discussion dives into managing emotional challenges, preparing kids for what lies ahead, and celebrating summer memories while easing the transition. Practical tips are shared for handling time adjustments, bedtime routines, and encouraging open communication to support children through their feelings. Equip yourself with valuable strategies to make this yearly switch smoother and more positive.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Kids Are 'Inside' Time

Children experience time differently and live 'inside' the moment, which makes transitions feel sudden to them.
Parents act as a substitute frontal lobe because kids lack mature time-judgment and executive function.

ADVICE

Use A Two-Week Countdown

Start gentle countdowns and use a visible calendar about two weeks before school to teach moving time.
Make reminders neutral and concrete, avoiding emotionally-charged warnings.

ADVICE

Shift Bedtime Gradually

Begin shifting bedtime earlier 3–7 days before school by 5–10 minute increments to mimic the school schedule.
Use external cues (draw blinds, lower voices, early PJs) to signal night and help the subconscious adjust.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Hello connected parents, and welcome back to another episode of Connected Parenting. In today’s conversation, we’re tackling the back-to-school transition.

For many kids, change can feel overwhelming.

Shifting from the relaxed rhythms of home or summer into the structure of school can bring up resistance, anxiety, and even meltdowns. As parents, that can feel like a rollercoaster of emotions for us too.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through practical tips and insights to help your child ease into the school routine with less stress and more confidence. We’ll cover ways to prepare them for what’s ahead, strategies to manage overwhelm, and how you can support yourself through the process as well.

By the end, you’ll have a toolkit of ideas to make the back-to-school transition smoother and set the stage for a positive year ahead.

Jennifer's Takeaways:

Back to School Transition Challenges (00:00)
Managing Time and Bedtime Adjustments (03:07)
Celebrating Summer and Preparing for School (04:44)
Handling Emotions and Transitions (08:17)
Maintaining Routines and Handling Challenges (09:25)

Meet Jennifer Kolari

Jennifer Kolari is the host of the “Connected Parenting” weekly podcast and the co-host of “The Mental Health Comedy” podcast. Kolari is a frequent guest on Nationwide morning shows and podcasts in the US and Canada. Her advice can also be found in many Canadian and US magazines such as; Today’s Parent, Parents Magazine and Canadian Family.

Kolari’s powerful parenting model is based on the neurobiology of love, teaching parents how to use compassion and empathy as powerful medicine to transform challenging behavior and build children’s emotional resilience and emotional shock absorbers.

Jennifer’s wisdom, quick wit and down to earth style help parents navigate modern-day parenting problems, offering real-life examples as well as practical and effective tools and strategies.

Her highly entertaining, inspiring workshops are shared with warmth and humour, making her a crowd-pleasing speaker with schools, medical professionals, corporations and agencies throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

One of the nation’s leading parenting experts, Jennifer Kolari, is a highly sought- after international speaker and the founder of Connected Parenting. A child and family therapist with a busy practice based in San Diego and Toronto, Kolari is also the author of Connected Parenting: How to Raise A Great Kid (Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada, 2009) and You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting (Penguin Canada, 2011).