Dispelling 6 myths about back-to-school readiness

August always feels like one long Sunday to me.

It is also a time of year when parents across Canada begin the ritual of preparing their children for September.

We buy the backpacks, lunch kits, running shoes and pencil crayons.

There is a nostalgic excitement to it all.

I have worked as a school psychologist for the past 15 years.

Even now, I still remember the scent of a fresh package of Mr.

Sketch markers.

However, research in school psychology and child development shows that the factors that matter most are not things you can put in a backpack.

Children thrive when they feel they belong .

They do better when they are emotionally regulated , when their routines are predictable and when parents and teachers work together .

In my experience, there are a few common misconceptions about “readiness” that I find worth challenging.

Myth: School readiness is mostly about academics Parents often worry that their child has forgotten math over the summer or that their reading has lagged.

While these concerns are valid , academics are only one part of school readiness.

More important questions are whether a child actually wants to go to school, and whether they feel connected to their school community .