
The Parent Resource Center is looking forward to a great year ahead. As families prepare for the Back to School season, here are some resources we hope will be of help. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer.
Parents and Caregivers Back to School Resources – NAMI Northern Virginia
These NAMI-created resources are for parents and caregivers, and are designed to help create a safe space for adults to talk about mental health and develop mental wellness habits with their children. These resources for parents and guardians are available to help you foster healthy habits for your children.
- 10 Question Tuesday: Weekly Check-In – 10 questions to talk with your child about ways to support their mental health. Learn how they like to de-stress, stay connected to their growing hobbies and interests, and understand what makes them anxious with this resource.
- The Three C’s for Parents and Guardians: This resource helps you and your child feel supported as you talk about mental health and wellness, identify support, and connect at home. Use the Three C’s to get curious, get concrete, and stay compassionate.
- Suicide Warning Signs: Over the last decade, teens have indicated increased feelings of suicidality. It’s important for parents to know the warning signs, learn how to ask the question, and how to navigate a mental health crisis.
- Bullying Warning Signs: Parents and caregivers need to pay close attention to their child’s behavior if they believe they’re involved in bullying. Use this resource to learn the warning signs and get tips about starting a conversation with children about bullying.
- The Three C’s for Parents and Guardians: This resource helps you and your child feel supported as you talk about mental health and wellness, identify support, and connect at home. Use the Three C’s to get curious, get concrete, and stay compassionate.
- A Week of Wellness: The activities in this resource can help you connect with your child every day. Use these ideas to build wellness time into a daily routine and build on meaningful conversations.
Understood.org
- “5 Great Back-to-School Books for Kids in Grades 1-4
- Back-to-school: A 4-week plan for a great start
- Printable Back to School Downloads
- Download: Back-to-school introduction letters
- Download: School contact lists
- Download: Backpack checklist
- Download: Homework contract for your child
- Download: 3×3 card to help teachers get to know your child
- Download: How to open a combination lock
- Back-to-school worksheet to start the year strong
Autism Speaks: Back to School: 17 Tips to Help Autistic Kids
Children’s National: Helping your child with autism prepare to go back to school
Child Mind Institute: Back to School Tips for Parents
Edutopia offers information on easing transition jitters, managing kids’ tech use, getting involved in school, and more.
- Hack to School: Getting Your Kids Back Into a Routine: Starting a routine-building regime late in the summer can help your kids start school fresh and ready. Here are some easy-to-implement tips for building a back-to-school routine..
- 9 Back to School Tips for Parents
- Month-by-month guide to enhance your kids’ school experience throughout the year.
- 5-Minute Film Festival Building a Parent Toolkit: Watch curated videos on topics like stress reduction, healthy eating, homework, and more. (Edutopia, 2015)
- 15 Questions to Replace ‘How Was School Today?’
- Back-to-School Health and Safety Tips
- Best Back-to-School Tips: Listen to this podcast about preparing students to head back to school and developing morning routines.
- Getting Back in the School Year Routine.
- Back to School: Find information about back-to-school shopping on a budget, getting organized, and supporting children academically in this collection of articles.
- How to Ease Your Child’s Kindergarten Jitters
- Transition Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Administrators
- Guiding Our Children Through School Transitions into elementary, middle, high school and post-secondary education
- Helping Students With Autism Transition Into a New School Year
- How to Cope With Back-to-School Anxiety
- Back to School Books
- Back-to-School Tech Tips Guide
- Four Tools to Improve Communication Between Home and School
- How Much Screen Time? That’s the Wrong Question
- Creating a Family Media Agreement: How to Have the Conversation
- 5 App and Mobile Use Guides for Parents
- Technology at Home: Developing the Social Self
- Media and Digital Literacy: Resources for Parents
PACER Center

You are invited to join us for our Back to School Webinar with Ann Dolin. Learn more on our Events page and use this link to register now for this free, virtual Zoom webinar.
Don’t miss this opportunity to equip your children with the tools they need to thrive in the new school year.