10 Tips For Back-to-School Success!
Almost all of us dread the end of summer. Kids are reluctant to get back into the routine of early mornings, structured days and the homework that school brings. And many parents are also reluctant to get back into the routine of early mornings, structured days and homework!
Whether your child is returning to pre-school, elementary school or middle school, here are 10 tips to help make the transition back to school a success.
1) Scale Back the Bedtime Hour – It?s easy in the summer to let bedtime slide a little later. About 3 weeks before school begins start scaling back bedtime so that by the end of the third week your child is rising at the same time s/he will have to get up for school. (It takes about 3 weeks for the body to adapt to a new sleep schedule.) If you?ve been putting your child to bed at 9 p.m., the first week put him/her to bed about 15 minutes earlier at 8:45. The next week, make it 8:30 and then the next week 8:15. Also start waking your child up a little earlier each week so that one week before schools starts, you?re mimicking the
school schedule.
2) Shop early for school supplies with your child. Your child will gain a sense of ownership by picking his/her own supplies.
3) Create a Homework Basket – While you?re shopping for school supplies, have your child pick a homework basket. This basket should contain all of the supplies that will be necessary to complete homework i.e. lots of pencils and erasers, a ruler, scissors, paper, markers, etc. These supplies should be used exclusively for homework to prevent dawdling/excuses when it comes time to do homework
4) Find kid-friendly breakfast and lunch ideas. Shop for easy, nutritious foods that pack a lot of protein into your child?s diet. Protein enhances neural connections in the brain.
5) Get Yourself Organized – Develop a filing system for all of the paperwork that comes home.
5) Review bus safety rules.
6) Shop for a first-day of school outfit. If you can afford it, let your child start school in a fun new outfit that will feel special.
7) Develop Morning Strategies – Do as much as you can the night before each school day. Check the weather forecast with your child and pre-select an outfit with your child that?s weather-appropriate. Make sure his/her homework/supplies are in the back pack at night. Have lunches or snacks pre-packed. Have a picture chart with your child?s morning duties outlined and have your child check them off at they are completed. Time out how long the morning routine should take and add 10 minutes.
Meet the Teacher – If your school hosts a meet-the-teacher event or open house, be sure to go. Ask the teacher for an outline of the day?s activities so you can prepare your child. Also ask the teacher?s xpectations for homework. Take a picture of your child with his/her teacher and post it on the fridge. Make sure your child knows his/her way around the school. Set up a play date if your child knows even one other child in the class.
9) End-of Summer Ritual – It can be helpful to create a ritual with your kids that signals the end of summer. It might be creating a scrapbook of the summer?s events. It might be going to an amusement park for one last hurrah.
10) Duplicate School Rules – Once school has started, ask your child what the rules are in his/her classroom? i.e. No Putdowns. Try to mimic the language that?s being used in the classroom at home to reinforce the lessons in both places.
By Toni Schutta, Parent Coach, M.A., L.P. Visit www.getparentinghelpnow.com to receive the free mini-course ?The 7 Worst Mistakes Parents Make (and How to Avoid Them!) and a free parenting newsletter.
Related Videos :
- Should Parents Worry About Violent Games Gaming Panel
Complete video at: fora.tv Comic book writer Gerard Jones addresses concerns many parents have about violent video games. This excerpt is taken from a panel discussion entitled “Taming Gaming in Your Home, ” presented by the Commonwealth Club of California. —– “Taming Gaming in Your Home: Honest Guide to Today' s Video Games.” Video and computer games are becoming the entertainment choice of many children as well as adults. Parents are
« view video » - transition to atheism personal
My personal story of de-programming from christianity — told for transparency, and to honour the people who' ve been mailing me lately, sharing their own private stories of religious doubts. To those people, my respect and good wishes. A WORD ABOUT TRANSITIONS Going through transitions can feel like a destructive, painful process. I give a model of transition here which can be applied to many different episodes in life — partly
« view video » - Nyjah Huston Element Transitions for Days
Nyjah Huston Element ' Transitions for Days' Compiled video to reminisce. a reel, ' Transitions for Days' covers the demos, contests: X games and Etnies Gvr, tours: East coast and park skating: bowls, rails. Have a watch. Riders: nyjah huston chad muska mike vallely tony tave darrell stanton collin provost brent atchley sebo walker tony carr levi brown mike manidis tosh townend lacey baker vanessa torres evelien bouilliart Nyjah Huston Sponsors: Element Skateboards, Element
« view video » - George Carlin Over parenting
George Carlin 70 years old but still as quick witted as ever. I found this particular talk about over parenting very true and something that all parents should watch and give thought to – as a parent myself I have seen this at the soccer field and in the attitudes of the teachers at my children' s schools. It' s sickening, what' s worse is that they' re
« view video » - Rob Hopkins Transition Handbook
Rob Hopkins' Transition Handbook Founder of the Transition Network spreading throughout the world, Rob Hopkins talks about Transition Town Totnes and moving towards a post-peak oil society. His book The Transition Handbook gives an account of the founding of Transition Town Totnes, and the global spread of Transition towns. He shows you how to start the Transition process in your community, and why it is important that communities are resilient to
« view video »
Related News :
- Delayed games ends in loss for Springs
An empty field sat listless deep into the night. It was quite a paradox, considering Friday night lights are reserved for Texas football. But lightning forced an hour and 45-minute delay, serving cause for suspense in the season opener at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Read more » - Club notes
Monday Antioch Coin Club: 7:30 p.m. at Antioch Public Library, 757 N. Main St. Details, (847) 395-4738. FIT/TEEN MOMS: 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukegan. Meals followed by stories and games for the children and classes on parenting. Details, (847) 367-0237.Gurnee Jaycees: 7:30 p.m. at In-Laws Restaurant, Milwaukee and Grand avenues, Gurnee. Lake County Parents Without Partners:…
Read more » - Center named for former Rep William Clay
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A new early childhood development center at Harris-Stowe State University will be named for a former St. Louis congressman. The William Clay Sr. Early Childhood and Parenting Education Center has been under construction for a year.
Read more » - Hamburg s City Council Finalizes Higher Garbage Collection Fees
Needing approximately $1, 100 per month to put the city’s solid waste collection program on a sound fiscal basis, the Hamburg City Council raised rates by over $2, 500 per month during the regular meeting on Monday night, August 24. The basic residential rate will increase from $9 to $11 per month.
Read more » - Tyler Technologies to Provide Tyler s VersaTrans Transportation Management Solution to Denver Public Schools
DALLAS–Tyler Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has successfully implemented Tylers VersaTrans transportation management system, part of Tylers broad range of software solutions for the K-12 school market, at Denver Public Schools (DPS). Specifically, DPS and Tyler, working together for the last eight weeks, have successfully implemented Tylers VersaTrans RP , and VersaTrans e…
Read more » - LWHS seeks to save zone light
As if he didnt have enough to think about already with the beginning of school, Lake Wales High School Principal Clark Berry added one more to do to his list: Saving the blinking light and the school zone on Burns Avenue near the high school.
Read more » - Scheduling glitch gives DHS hassle
Durango High School has been beset this week by scheduling problems caused in part by a new software system. Students were not able to pick up their class schedules until Monday, the first day of school. In past years, schedules have been mailed to students during summer break.
Read more » - Big Red coach fighting for a cause
STEUBENVILLE When competing in the sports arena, coaches can develop a game plan, prepare for an opponent and execute based on what has been done and redone in practice. Tendencies are documented and routines are regimented in what becomes a completely controlled environment.
Read more »
Posted in Parenting
Tags: back, children, kids,