It happens every year. Just when you are settled in to the lazy days of summer, you are startled to find Back to School catalogs in your mailbox and bikinis going on sale in favor of turtlenecks. Your local store has devoted an entire aisle to pencils, notebooks, and lunch bags. Soon there will be no more long days at the beach, late nights watching movies with popcorn, or mornings free of alarm clock jitters. It's enough to make you dread September, but it doesn't need to be that way. With a slight change in attitude and a plan in place, September can be one of the best months of the year.
1. Practice
Don't wait until Labor Day to get ready for the changeover to the school year. Begin pulling back bedtime during the last two weeks of August-around 8:30 to 9:00 PM for elementary school kids.
2. Lower Your Expectations
Major transitions equal disruption. Routines change and priorities shift. Allow yourself extra leeway when it comes to chores and tasks. Avoid scheduling appointments during the month surrounding the start of the school year.
3. Carve Out Extra Time
Clear the decks of added responsibilities so that you can get through the transition with less stress. Don't sign up for your usual extra-curricular activities. Keep your family commitments to a minimum.
4. Motivate Your Kids
Preparing for school isn't a job only for parents. The students themselves have things they must do to get ready. Make all the back to school activities, like shopping for school clothes, a fun family event. Devote the first week of school to getting settled and having fun as a family. Plan pizza nights and ice cream socials. Schedule extra game nights and buy a new puzzle.
5. Ask for Help
Reduce your stress during this transition. Enlist help to complete all the back to school tasks. Hire a babysitter to watch your younger children while you take your older children to buy school clothes. Ask grandparents to supervise school supplies purchases.
6. Set the Tone
Set a positive tone for the new school year. If you approach September with the kind of dread usually associated with prison terms, you can be sure your kids aren't going to be too happy about going to school. On the other hand, if you show interest and excitement in what lies ahead, then your child will be eager to get started.
7. Focus
The beginning of a new school year is an important time for a child. The whole family should be interested and involved in the process. Express interest about the upcoming year, classes, and school friends. Share your school memories. Celebrate this new beginning!
The beginning of a new school year can be an exciting time for a family. It's a fresh start with new teachers and classmates, and perhaps even a new school. Planning for the best possible beginning to the year shows your child how much you care. The more effort you put into it, the more you and your child will reap the rewards.
Katie Basson is a parent, teacher, and creator of The BITs Kit Better Behavior Kit for Kids?. Katie teaches seminars on behavior modification techniques, and assists parents through challenging behavioral and educational issues. She serves on the Board of Directors of the YWCA and is an educational advisor to Zoesis, Inc., a children's software company. Katie's expert advice has been sought for articles in The Boston Globe and Parents Magazine. Sign up for her biweekly Parenting Solutions newsletter at www.bitskit.com.
Oswego taxi to Midway ..Self esteem in an important quality for all children to... Read More
Ok. So you're a dad to be. If you're like... Read More
Everyone loves penguins. And now, everyone has a chance to... Read More
While on a recent trip to the grocery store, I... Read More
As the new school year begins, parents play a pivotal... Read More
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading was conceived... Read More
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Results of the Spanking Poll on Rexanne.com: Voters - 233Percentage... Read More
Self-reliance and potential are two very important values that I'd... Read More
In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint... Read More
As a mother of two sets of fraternal boy/girl twins,... Read More
Early childhood educators have called play "children's work". Many parents... Read More
From the time the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in... Read More
I remember when my daughter was born, later my son.... Read More
'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More
Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More
Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More
Do you think you really know your child? I don't... Read More
If you are like most people today, you do not... Read More
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested... Read More
The successful preschool idea behind many successful preschool learning centers... Read More
We all wish that our children should not smoke or... Read More
A while ago I received this story from David in... Read More
"Family Matters" was the headline that caught my attention in... Read More
"Home Schooling ? Look Before You Leap"Are you considering home... Read More
shuttle from Midway Morris ..It's no surprise that the self-image and self-esteem of overweight... Read More
Little Suzy has really been having a hard time getting... Read More
There is no doubt that the benefits of being a... Read More
My daughters and I went to the beach several weeks... Read More
Q: A parent writes in to ask, "You write a... Read More
So, the thing is? I am feeling a little guilty.I... Read More
Many reasons will cause some people to feel the need... Read More
The choices are mind numbing. Walk into any toy store... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
Successful families don't just happen. They take time, talent and... Read More
Memorabilia ? Children can create enough artwork for an entire... Read More
I WAS AMAZEDI could hardly believe what I was hearing.... Read More
What's hard for teenagersHaving people who don't understand you trying... Read More
Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece... Read More
In today's busy world, many parents have lost the art... Read More
Every summer our daughter goes to summer camp. She looks... Read More
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
MYTH: All teens have to rebel, and the teen years... Read More
As a parent your biggest responsibility is to prepare your... Read More
Here are fourteen spontaneous time-outs, specially designed to help you... Read More
In speaking with parents a comment I frequently hear is... Read More
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids... Read More
Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate... Read More
Parenting |