10 Parenting Tips to Help Kids Thrive During the School Year with Peace and Purpose

1. Connect with your kids before the school year begins for peace and purpose.

“As my kids have gotten older,” writes Keri Early, Pastor’s wife and mother of three, “I try to be intentional in taking time to connect with them one-on-one to reflect on the summer and look ahead to the school year.”

Early suggests, “This could be done on a walk through the neighborhood or a trip to a coffee shop. When we do a coffee shop meeting,” she writes, “I take a small notebook and ask them how they are doing in the following areas: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and spiritually.”

“This often leads to great conversations,” notes Early. “I also use these notes to consider how I can support and pray for them throughout the year.”

2. Prepare your kids for peace and purpose the night before.

Heather Faust, pilot’s wife and mother of four, writes, “It’s important my kids are set up for success, not just on the grand scale of things, but also in their daily lives, and that begins with peaceful and productive mornings.”

Faust continues, “Morning can be chaotic, hectic, and tiresome, and that’s not the start of the day my kids or I thrive in. So we prep our day the night before--we pick out our clothes, prep lunches, check backpacks, and do a ‘ten-minute tidy’ of the house before heading to bed. That way, we wake up to peace when we wake up.”

“We are also more productive in getting to school by prepping the night before,” writes Faust. “Behavior in the morning is also calmer for the kids and me when we wake up to everything picked up, prepped, and laid out because we’re not overwhelmed by the chaos. And being calm sets a much more positive and loving tone for my kids; setting them up for a successful day at school.”

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3. Equip your kids with the Fruit of the Spirit and the Armor of God for a school year with peace and purpose.

Jean Lim Flores, author, wife, and blessed mother to a sweet girl, writes, “At the start of this new school year, what could be better than equipping my daughter with the same tools that the Apostle Paul preached to encourage character building and fruitfulness in spirit as she encounters challenging relationships or circumstances at school, church, and beyond.” 

“This set of spiritual virtues,” describes Flores, “which Paul refers to as the fruit of the Holy Spirit, are characteristics (Galatians 5:22-23) that empower believers to live in unity and be more like Jesus,  and can grow like fruit on trees—when our children’s lives are rooted in Christ and watered by faith.”

Flores continues that, “More than the latest new backpack with all the bells and whistles, a fancy outfit, shiny new shoes or a case full of new pencils, Ephesians 6:10 outlines a different outfit called the ‘Armor of God’ that can equip and gird our children in their daily life with spiritual gear that can protect them against enemy schemes, oftentimes covered during Vacation Bible School or in Sunday School, why not apply it to the notion of ‘Back to School’ as well?” 

“As a parent,” writes Flores, “I have confidence that speaking this simple prayer each day with our children as they are on their way to school will bless them to be strong, courageous, respectful, and kind human beings. It will empower them for their everyday battles.” 

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

In Jesus’ Name, 

Amen.

4. Hide God’s word in your kids’ hearts to draw from for peace and purpose.

When our two oldest daughters were in elementary school, they attended AWANAS at our local church during the summer months. There, they memorized Scripture verses, earning rewards while hiding God’s word in their hearts.

At times when we aren’t around, we can trust that God’s word in their heart will speak to them and help them in times of need. As Hebrews 4:12 assures, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and Spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Just like television shows and films show what someone says to a person and speak to them in making decisions, we can count on the living word of God to talk to our children, bringing peace and purpose into their situations.

While at school, during times of frustration, temptations, and stress, we can count on it to lead and guide them in their responses and actions.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 urges, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Robert Nicholas

5. Pray with your kids to cover them with peace and purpose.

Like Flores, take time to pray with your kids each day. If mornings before school are too hectic and at times unpredictable due to last-minute issues, take time before bed to pray with each child about their next day in school.

Ask if they have any requests they would like you to pray with them about, as well as praying for safety, wisdom, peace, and God’s leadership in accomplishing their school work.

Along with praying with each one, teach them how to pray for themselves and also teach them prayers from the Bible, such as the Lord’s Prayer, that they can say when needing prayer. 

6. Set your kids up for peace and purpose by making getting ready for school easy.

One creative mom found a way to help make getting ready in the mornings easier. Sprinkleinlearning posted an Instagram video showing how she designed a push-button light system to help her daughter get ready for school daily.

Posting photos of each morning step, she placed a push-button light under each one on the front door entryway wall. Her daughter begins each morning by turning the lights on and then, as she does each step, pushing each light off to mark the task completed.

It’s a fun, creative, and teachable way for kids to learn how to organize their school essentials and get ready each school morning.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/RebeccaNelson

7. Hold a special back-to-school dinner to encourage peace and purpose.

Celebrating with a special meal helps create lasting memories with kids and helps them see returning to school as a positive experience. 

Depending on your child’s preference, go out to lunch at their favorite eatery or cook their favorite meal at home, all to give them a yummy and fun-filled school send-off.

It can be as simple as ordering a pizza or grilling hot dogs over the fire pit, whatever puts a smile on their faces and spells C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N to them.

8. Go over walking route, bus safety rules, or carpooling schedules to provide peace and purpose

Depending on which transportation method applies, prepare your children for walking, riding their bike, or the school bus, or carpooling to school by going over their routes and schedules before time.

If walking or riding their bike, walk or ride the route with your child to see any potential issues and to give specific instructions that might be needed.

If riding a bus, ask the school for the rules to ensure you and your child know them beforehand.

If you are carpooling with other parents, go over the schedules and make sure your kids are familiar with the neighbors who are driving and their vehicles.

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9. Prepare a homework spot to cultivate a place of peace and purpose.

Set up a specific spot where your kids can do homework. This should be a place where they can concentrate, have space to spread out and work, and be free from distractions.

It may be as simple as the dining room or sunroom table, or as creative as transforming a hall closet or under-stairs space into a homework spot. 

10. Tuck encouraging and inspiring notes to speak peace and purpose into your kids’ day.

Find fun ways to stick encouraging and inspiring notes in your kids’ backpacks, lunches, jacket pockets, and other items, asking God to help them find them when they need them most.

Words that let them know they are loved and treasures, such as God loves you, God is with you, We love you, and Praying for you. 

Find words that will encourage and inspire your kids throughout their school day.

Photo credit: GettyImages/fizkes