Giggle Gardens in Springfield preparing children for upcoming school year

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – August kicks off the new school year for many students in the Pioneer Valley and one local summer program is helping set families up for success.

Camps like Giggle Gardens in Springfield are preparing to return to after-school programming and they are making sure it’s a smooth and easy transition for the kids like Ava’lyse. She told 22News what she looks forward to, “Seeing my friends again.”

“So we actually all have to get ready for them to go to school,” Kelly Trudeau, Director of Giggle Gardens explained. “We try to ask to the children to also give us their input on how they would like to learn and how they learn so it makes it easier to make that transition.”

Parents can also help their children by following these tips:

• Making sure their child has a daily, predictable routine, with regular times for healthy meals, naps, and night sleep at home
• Talking with their child about what to expect in the school year
• Helping them with strategies to manage stress and cope with worries
• Connecting with teachers and other parents ahead of the new school year

For the other kids who may not be ready to go back to school, what do you want to tell them? Ava’lyse says, “Be brave! You are going to have lots of fun!.”

Trudeau adds, “To all the parents… stay strong … you guys can do it.”

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