Back-to-School Questions for the Whole Family
One of my favorite commercials of all time is a 1996 Staples ad that features two forlorn-looking children following their father as he dances through the aisles of the store, throwing school supplies into the cart. The background music encapsulates his mood as he pirouettes to the tune of the Christmas song, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
Cheers to you, if that’s how you feel about the impending school year. If you’re feeling more like the downcast children in the commercial, I get that too. And if school is years or decades behind you—keep reading anyway. This post is for you too.
Pushing the reset button
I remember clearly the first year I was not in school. Up to that point, life had come with two annual reset buttons: the start of the calendar year, and the start of the academic one. Those reset buttons were useful. They served as reminders to recommit to your goals, upgrade your school wardrobe, get more organized, or try something new.
Who among us doesn’t need a reset button now and then?
What we’re really talking about is the chance to examine your life and make changes, big or small, that help you be more of the person you truly want to be. Or that help you live with more joy, more ease, more purpose, and more productivity.
Below, I offer some questions to help you (and your kids) examine where you are and what you want. You don’t have to wait for the start of a new year—calendar or academic—to use these questions, of course.
Back-to-school questions for kids
How do you hope this year will be different from the last? What do you want to be the same this year?
What helped make last year successful? What will help you get off to a good start this year? What support do you need from me?
What worries do you have as you start this year?
What kind of friend do you want to be this year? Is there anything different you want from your friendships?
What helps you relax after a busy day at school? What keeps you motivated?
Do you have any goals for your year? (In terms of grades or learning? Social life? Sports or activities? Service?)
Mid-year reset questions for grown-ups
Where are you in alignment with your goals or your purpose? Are there places where you are out of alignment with your goals or purpose?
What conversations are you avoiding? What decisions are you avoiding? What do you want to do about that?
What is one small change you could make that would be a tangible improvement in your life?
Where are you experiencing friction in your life? What can you learn from this? What steps can you take to resolve it?
When you look at your To-do list, what tasks are things only YOU can do? How can you put more time and effort into things that use your specific strengths or talents?
What will December You be glad or proud that August You did?
Sometimes these questions, whether asked of yourself or your children, surface deeply felt needs that require attention. Sometimes they surface small requests or changes that are easy to meet. Either way, you’ll be glad to know.
Wishing you a back-to-school season that is, in its own way, the most wonderful time of the year.