14
community
august23
2011
Better Parenting: 8 Tips To Help Your Kids Have a Smooth
Start For The New School Year
By Sonia Spackman
Starting school after summer’s
end can be hard for kids. Many kids
worry about fitting in and making friends
before they start to think about learning
and homework. Here are 8 tips you
might try to make the school year easier
for your child and you.
1. If your child is worried or nervous
about school
Let your child know it’s normal
to be nervous. Let your child share
their feelings and worries while you
just listen. I discovered with my own
kids that I needed to let them “just talk”
without trying to change their thinking.
It’s ok to ask questions, what kids don’t
want is lectures. Share some positive or
funny stories about your back to school
jitters.
your child walks to school, walking your
child to school a few times before and
after school starts might help him or her
become more familiar with the school.
Maybe you can buy something special
as a way of “looking forward” to the
first day of school. You might say: “You
can have your game, toy or book when
you get home from school. When school
starts give your child a family picture, or
write a note to put in the backpack as a
reminder of what time you will be back
to pick up your child.
Middle/High School --Stress can
intensify when kids make the leap from
grade school to middle school or middle
school to high school. With older kids
you can go over their class schedule
with them so they know where each
classroom is located, especially if this
is their first year in a Vernonia School.
Suggest activities your child might like
to get involved in that are enjoyable to
them. You could point out, “Next year
you will be the experienced kid that can
help the new kids around.
aside part of a day to help them organize
their rooms. Get rid of the clutter and
have them organize their drawers and
closets. With a clean room, you’ll get
your kids started on the right foot. Train
your children to keep their supplies in
their backpacks. Make a habit with the
kids to lay out their clothes the night
before so it’s easier to get ready for school
in the morning. Have them immediately
put homework in the backpack with
any books that were used and place in
the same exact spot every day, such as
by the door. This will save you and the
kid’s morning panic trying to gather up
homework and find the backpack. Also
be sure to check the backpack each day
for any information sent home from the
school.
4. Fuel the mind and the body
The most important way to
ensure your child’s success is to make
2. If your child doesn’t want to go
healthy meals and snacks for your kids
back to school
and cut back the sweets and caffeine
Elementary School --Maybe you could
drinks. Eating too much sugar hinders
call the grade school and see if the
their brain. It acts like a drug, making
teacher is available to meet your child 3. Teach your kids to organize first
them tired, irritable and foggy or hyper.
for a brief visit and see the classroom. If
Tell the kids that you are setting Brain healthy foods for breakfast
might be oatmeal with raisins, string
cheese with wheat crackers and fruit or
scrambled eggs with cheese in a tortilla.
Afternoon snacks could be string cheese,
Vernonia’s Voice is published and distributed twice
prepackaged fruit cups or oatmeal raisin
each month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday.
cookies, air-popped or low fat popcorn
with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Subscription rates are $35 for one year (24 issues).
5. Set a time and place for homework
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and chores
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Before school starts set aside
time each day your children will use
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for homework and chores. It is a good
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idea to have an hour of fun and a snack
after school and then it’s time to do the
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homework. Homework should start
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before 5:00 p.m. This routine helps kids
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develop the habits for tougher and longer
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assignments that are required for middle
school and high school. Help your child
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learn to be a self-starter when it comes to
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homework and planning for projects and
tests. Post a calendar on a wall, door or
desk just for tests and projects.
6. Plan for enough sleep and begin
quickly
If your kids have been staying
up later during the summer like most
kids, start getting them to bed a little
earlier each night and waking up a little
earlier each day. The last thing you want
is the hassle of trying to get them out of
bed in time for school starting the first
day. Kids need to be rested to do well
in school. Start getting the kids into the
routine by turning off the TV and video
games 15 minutes earlier each night. Get
them to bed another 15 minutes early
the next nights and up an additional 15
minutes each morning until they are at
the routine they need to get their rest.
7. Help your kids develop a love for
reading
Make reading important in your
home. Read aloud to your child or set
aside time where you have your child
read to you – or maybe your family can
read silently together. Teach your kids to
be interested in books – for every interest
there is a book or magazine on it. Teach
your kids to use the library to read or get
their homework done.
8. Teach your kids right from wrong
This will improve peer
relationships and grades more than
anything else. The real world your child
grows up in will punish crimes, so give
your child a head start by teaching them
right from wrong. It will be the best gift
you can give your kids.
References: Steven George, Better
Homes
and
Gardens,
Laolan
Madden, Mom’s Home Room, Maya
Cohen, Family Education, American
Counselor Association, Maya Cohen,
FamilyEducation.com, Patty Catalano,
School Family.com
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