Here are the 7 Back to School Tips that Christine Pullara & I tried to cover today on Atl & Co, but ran short of time.
BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS for Parents & Kids
- Get Excited & Prepare
- Talk it up with positive words
- Pick out new clothes
- De-clutter rooms by going through old clothes & donate that which doesn’t fit or won’t or can’t be worn any more (helps to know school dress code rules before doing this- often found on school websites)
- Pick out new school supplies
- Go through last year’s supplies, but always get something new
- Don’t forget the use of different colors for supplies (folders, pens, hi-lighters, etc.) as it can help organization
- Discuss snack & food desires – buying vs. packing lunch
- Let them pack their lunch
- Teach healthy choice lunches & snacks
- Organize frig & panty into self-serve zones so children can choose
- Allow school friends to get together the 2 weeks before to ease anxieties – or at least call and let the excitement start
- Prepare for 1st day questions like “What did you do this summer?” “Are you buying or packing your lunch” “What bus do you ride?”
- This will reduce stress for students
- Start getting up earlier via alarm
- Establish the school year bedtime & routine now
- Attend School Open House Week Before
- Crucial when starting a new school
- Meet teacher, find rooms/locker/desk/bathrooms etc. (HS kids need to find best walking path to get from class to class)
- Review rules of school & classroom together
- Let them pack their lunch
- Have Balanced Involvement
- Parents
- It’s easier to trust the trained school professionals if you know them
and helps avoid helicoptering parent syndrome - Offer your assistance (send classroom supplies requested, volunte
- er to be room mom/dad, join PTA, be a bank booster, etc.)
- It’s easier to trust the trained school professionals if you know them
- Students
- Get involved with a limited number of activities
- Having no extracurricular activity should not be allowed
- Parents
- Set Expectations
- Discuss extracurricular activity level, classroom behavior & grade expectations before school starts
- Remember straight A’s isn’t a realistic goal for every kid—let them have input on what is attainable and what is unacceptable
- Teach kids that they must adapt to school life … school is their “job”
- May not always be easy or go their way, but is preparation for life
- Discuss extracurricular activity level, classroom behavior & grade expectations before school starts
- Discuss Time Management
- Have a Routine
- Start with breakfast!
- Have & Post a Schedule
- Family & indiv calendar
- Electronic, paper, dry erase board or combination
- Set best time(s) for homework/studying & WHERE that will happen
- Know that the best time to do homework can differ with each child (see Study Habits chapter in I.F.E. – Challenge Your Teen’s Basic Knowledge for more information on this subject)
- Create a “Command Center” for homework
- Fill it with supplies needed
- Keep all school related papers & gear in a specific place
- Consider cubbies, crates, bins, trays & folders to help organize
- Designate a specific place for papers that parents need to see/sign
- Remove distractions (i.e., electronics, pets & people)
- Teach how to Prioritize
- Allow for school work, activities, family, friends, play, TV, etc.
- Family & indiv calendar
- Have a Routine
- Prep Night Before
- Get clothes ready
- Make lunches
- Set backpacks, books, homework, etc. in agreed upon place the night before to eliminate a fire drill in the morning
- Allow a small amount of emergency money to be carried, at all times ($5.00 max)
- Surround Your Kids with Positives
- People, quotes, pictures, things, etc.
- Put them in your home everywhere (study area, bedroom, kitchen, on notebooks, etc. … even bathroom mirror)
- Place little encouraging notes in lunches and books
- Celebrate Successes
- Celebrate the big & the small throughout the year … can be anything from ice cream at the local ice cream store to going bowling after a good report card (I caution paying for grades however—focus on celebrating instead)
AND REMEMBER TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR DAY! 