It’s back-to-school season! The start of a new school year is an exciting transition filled with new opportunities and growth. It's also a time for families to step into new routines. When caregivers help kids feel prepared for school, we tend to see improved attendance, academic performance, and increased participation in extracurricular activities.
Here are a few tips to help families get ready for the new school season and turn preparation into action. These tips can help families lay the groundwork for their kids to have a confident first week!
Establish a Routine (and Practice It): Routines are beneficial for kids and support their development because they offer predictability, which can help kids feel secure during new transitions. Consider establishing a bedtime and wake-up routine before school starts. Experts recommend that children ages 6-12 get between 9-12 hours of sleep and 8-10 hours of sleep for ages 13-18. Children need a lot of sleep - especially at the beginning of the school year; insufficient sleep affects curiosity, emotional regulation, and task completion. To engage the kids in the process, consider creating a plan with a simple visual schedule; you can use check boxes or a done column to boost motivation to follow routines and schedules.
Create a Learning Space: Allocate a space in the house for a small desk or a quiet corner where kids can read and study. Encourage them to personalize the area with quotes or their favorite sticker to build ownership and motivation.
Promote Open Communication: Bi-directional communication between caregivers and kids will support their back-to-school transition. Consider modeling active listening skills at home by asking the kids in your life how their day was, and sharing a few of your own school experiences to relate to them. In this conversation, it might be helpful to ask the child to identify at least one adult at school whom they can trust. It might be their favorite coach, teacher, hall monitor, or bus driver!
Investing in Readiness
Time and budget pressures are also real during the back-to-school season, and recent data on family investment of both money and time during the back-to-school season suggests:
- On average, families spend $741 per child on back-to-school spending, which is $200 more than in 2024.
- 75% families expect to spend the same or more this year in comparison to 2024.
- Families dedicate an average of 17 hours per week managing school schedules, shopping, and other logistics.
This data shows that it’s not just the financial outlay, but the sustained time and energy families contribute to help their kids start strong. Having a strong support system is crucial — and that’s where community resources come in.
Place-based Support
North Hartford Ascend (Ascend) is a place-based cradle-to-career initiative in the North Hartford Promise Zone and an initiative of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health. It connects children and families with tangible resources and services such as:
Direct Support Services
Hartford Public Schools (HPS) is a key community partner of Ascend. Each year, HPS hosts a district-wide back-to-school event. Last year, nearly 5,000 backpacks and various other resources were donated, with similar or greater contributions expected this year. This year’s event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will feature more than 70 resource tables for families.
Back-to-school drives help families get the supplies and resources they need to start the school year ready and confident. For more information, refer to the link - Back to School Celebration, 2025
Each school within the district will also be hosting similar events, ensuring support and easing the back-to-school transition for families.
Family Navigation
Families can connect with family navigators to discuss needs and find the right resources.
Family navigation consists of navigators who guide families and connect them through available services and resources tailored to their specific needs. To communicate with a family navigator, call 2-1-1 or get in touch directly with The Villages. They also partner with Hartford Public Schools to provide services and support for children to be successful in school, while also supporting the healthy development of your family.
Community-Based Events
On August 20, 2025, HPS will host Acend’s monthly Community Conversation, this time focusing specifically on back-to-school preparation for families. Community conversations are open to all community members. To attend the event, refer to the registration link here - August 20th, Community Conversation.
Community Resource Map
Ascend’s Community Resource Map makes it easy to find local services and support. Co-designed with residents and family navigators, this interactive tool simplifies the search for nearby resources, including:
- Educational support programs
- Food and Nutrition Assistance
- Mental Health and Counselling Services
- Housing and transportation assistance
- Childcare and family support services
- Healthcare services
* You can refer to the Community Resource Map for a complete and accurate list of local services
By connecting community assets into a strong network of services and events, Ascend aims to turn back-to-school uncertainty into a community-powered strength.
So, are you ready to start the school year with confidence? For more information on Ascend and its resources, please visit the North Hartford Ascend Website and explore the Community Resource Map on the website. These tools are designed to equip families with the necessary resources and reduce stress so they can approach challenges feeling supported and prepared.
This back-to-school season, let Ascend guide your journey “beyond the backpack”.