tumbles.of.fun

The weeks leading up to the start of a new school year can be filled with excitement and anticipation, but sometimes they're also filled with dread. I know when I was a kid I would get so nervous that I couldn't even sleep! For tweens in particular, going back to school can bring with it a lot of stress, especially since that may mean making the big transition from elementary school to middle school.

I recently stumbled on a Parenting.com article by Nancy Gottesman that addresses co-sleeping with your tween. Parenting conducted a survey on their online network MomConnection and found that 45% of moms who participated in the survey let their 8- to 12-year-olds sleep with them from time to time, and 13% permit it every night. The article talks about how stress can cause tweens to seek out mom and dad's bed when falling asleep becomes a problem.

Not surprisingly, school (friends, grades, bullying) is one source of stress that could keep your tween up at night. Susan Carney a middle school counselor who writes for Suite101.com offers helpful advice on how to tackle typical concerns for middle school tweens. Communication with your tween can reduce stress by addressing their concerns about lockers and schedules before they get out of hand.

Another way to reduce your tween's stress and help them sleep at night is to create a bedtime routine and then stick to it. The start of school means clubs, sports, and homework, which may push back bedtime in order for tweens to get everything done. But if you commit to a bedtime routine for your tween, it can help them relax and prepare for sleep.

If your tween continues to have problems sleeping, I suggest having him or her keep a journal. A journal is a safe place to record fears and concerns, which often seem much less scary once they're down on paper. Encourage your tween to make journal writing part of his or her bedtime routine. Even ten minutes of writing can help. Buy a sparkly notebook or a cool leather journal to make journal writing feel special and important to your tween.

Has your tween experienced back to school stress or had trouble sleeping? I'd love for you to share your experiences with us!