It’s hard to believe that back-to-school time is upon us! Starting the school year rested and ready-to-learn can set the tone for a student’s attitude and performance in class. Even students who are ready and excited to come back to school may need help adjusting to different levels of activity and daily structure.
The following are some tried and true tips which could help make the transition back to school a smooth one:
Review all of the materials and information sent by the school about your child’s teacher, room number, school calendar and more. Being familiar with key dates and information will help keep surprises at bay.
Mark your calendar. Make a note of important dates, especially back-to-school nights. This is especially important if you need to juggle obligations, or arrange for babysitters in advance.
Re-establish routines. Plan to re-establish the bedtime and mealtime routines (especially breakfast) at least one week before school starts. Prepare your child for this change by talking with them about the benefits of school routines in terms of not becoming over tired or overwhelmed by school work and activities.
Visit school with your child. If your child is young or starting at a new school, visit the school with them prior to class starting. Meeting the teacher, locating their classroom, lockers, lunchroom and more will help ease anxieties and also allow your child to ask questions about the new environment. Call ahead and see if teachers will be available to introduce themselves.
Make room for schoolwork at home Designate and clear a place to do homework, whether it’s at a desk in a bedroom or at the kitchen table. Making space for schoolwork and designating places to store supplies will help facilitate a homework routine.
Leave plenty of extra time. A change in schedules can be challenging! Make sure both you and your children have plenty of time to get up, eat breakfast, and get to school.
If the first few days back to school are a little rough, try not to overreact. Remember, the change back from summer to school could affect everyone differently – but we’re all in it together!
Here’s to a positive and productive school year!