Tough Transitions: Music for Back to School
by Karah Chappel, MT-BC
Back to school season can be stressful! So many schedule changes, new people in the kids’ lives, and adapting to different demands on our time and resources can feel overwhelming; I would like to help with that! As a music therapist, I spend a lot of time using music with clients to manage change in their daily living. Read on for a few ways to integrate music in your back to school routine – for you and your kids.
“Let’s Get Out of the House” Playlist
Especially with kids who are getting themselves ready before school, there can be pushback to getting out the door on time. Consider building a playlist to help keep y’all on track. Choose songs that everyone in the family enjoys (or a favorite or two for each member), aiming for upbeat songs with positive messages that can motivate your folks to get moving. Create the playlist to be the exact amount of time y’all need from wake-up to walking out the door and play it in the same order each day. This will provide a built in alarm clock for you and the kids to know when time is up, as well as pacing you along the way: “Everyone needs to be brushing their teeth by the end of ‘Walking on Sunshine!’”
Bedtime Self-Compassion Practice
Meeting new people and navigating new social circles can lead to kids of all ages questioning their self-esteem and their identities. Support growth in both of these areas by implementing a song before bed to re-solidify positive self thoughts. The lyrics below can be sung to the tune of “Row Row Row Your Boat.” Or feel free to get creative and build your own! Substituting characteristics of your child for the ones listed below could be a great place to start. Download this poster here!
Drop Off Debrief
The moment when all the kids hop out of the car at school or daycare can give a sigh of relief; it can also be a sinking reminder of what comes next on your list of demands. The drive to your next location is the optimal time to meet your needs without worrying about anyone else. Would you benefit from a playlist of feel-good jams to pump you up for the day? Or would ambient instrumental music or rain sounds be a more gentle transition? Maybe you would benefit from listening to strong emotional music to help you release any feelings you haven’t had the time to express (I would recommend following this with one of the other options to ground yourself before the next task). Or perhaps you need silence – a solid 15 minutes with no talking, no music, no radio to quiet your brain. Keep in mind that your needs may change day to day as well! If you’re looking for more tips on meeting your needs, check out our blog on self-care.
Post-School Reconnect
The lives of our kids at school are full of drastically different expectations and experiences than what we set up at home. When they get back in the car, they may be dysregulated, shut down, or just not themselves. Perhaps music can help us bridge that gap. Depending on the age of your children consider: a daily song share from your teen to describe their day; a dance party with your little one for some energy release; or some calm music listening with no talking for your kiddo to relax after all the distractions of school. Remember that your child may be ready to hop into this activity as soon as they strap in and they may also benefit from some alone time first before they’re ready to give you their full attention.
Celebrating the Wins
In the struggle of settling into a school routine and keeping the family centered, we may lose moments of joy and celebration to the chaos. Think about choosing a family celebration song: a fun, upbeat song with themes of joy and accomplishment. Some of my recs are: “Celebration” by Kool & the Gange; “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons; and “I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic. Or feel free to pick your own! Finding time to celebrate the little wins (out the door on time, everyone remembered their lunches, all green lights on the way to school) and the big wins (good grades, making a new friend, a week of completing chores) for just the 3 minutes it takes to listen to a song builds a simple routine for practicing gratitude.
Do these feel like useful tools? I hope so. Wishing you good luck for another school year!
If you have ideas for more uses of music in back-to-school transitions or to share your experiences using these, leave me a comment!
