The new school year is upon us. If thoughts of waking grumpy kids at 6:00 am and thrusting them into a tightly-scheduled day seem a bit shocking after a leisurely summer, you are not alone. Here are some tips used by parents in your community to help create a seamless transition from pool to school.
SLEEP/ROUTINE
Don’t wait until the last minute to alter your child’s sleep pattern, unless you want the first week of school to be a nightmare for the parents, the kids, and probably the teacher, too. Two suggestions:
- Gradually (15 minutes at a time) move bedtime forward over the course of a week or two before the first day of school.
- Plan a “School Celebration Day,” beginning at 6:00 am the week before school starts back. Begin the day with dessert and then a yummy breakfast, and then schedule fun activities all day until the new bedtime to avoid a grumpy transition. This makes waking up, and staying up (without a nap), something to look forward to, instead of something to dread. Keep to the new schedule the entire week before school starts.
Wake children in plenty of time to avoid any need to rush. If, on a good day, you can have all the kids dressed, fed, and out the door in forty-five minutes, then plan to wake the kids up at least one hour and fifteen minutes before time to leave. This will make mornings pleasant for the entire family, instead of a powder keg of drama.
During the school year, set a schedule including wake-up, school, snack, homework, free time, chores, extra-curricular activities, dinner, reading and bedtime…then stick to it. After a while, you won’t even have to nag them to do these activities. The routine will flow naturally.
While scheduling some after school activities is healthy and productive, be sure not to over-schedule your child this year. When in doubt, ask your child. She will tell you if she is overwhelmed with the pace of her life. All you have to do is ask and listen.
SHOPPING
Some PTOs offer to purchase supplies for parents ahead of time. This is the most convenient method of school supply shopping, as you will always get everything on the list, and the supplies are delivered directly to the school. All you have to do is pick up your box at Back to School Night, and deliver it directly to the classroom.
If this option is not available at your school, your best bet is to shop early and use online resources to ensure that you do not have to store-hop to find all of the specific items required.
For school clothes, one mom suggested buying only one outfit for the first day of school. Then, in mid-September, when the school clothes are on sale, go shopping with the big bucks. The kids like this option, too, because they get more clothes for the money by waiting just one month!
If your school uses uniforms, ask friends, your school, or the PTO if there is a uniform exchange or a used-uniform “closet,” to save money.
Buy all matching socks to avoid the I-can’t-find-clean-matching-socks blues. If you have more than one child (more than one size of socks) purchase a different type of sock for each child.
Take your kids with you to shop! The same backpack your daughter found adorable in the second grade is likely to humiliate her in the third grade. You never know when these changes will occur, so you must always have your child with you at the time of purchase to avoid last minute returns.
HOME
Set up a School Station in your home with separate compartments for lunch money, signed papers/permission forms, library books, and show-and-tell items. Backpacks should be stored nearby. Use a bulletin board to tack invitations, special program reminders, field trip notices, etc. With the surge of school papers coming in initially, it will benefit you to complete them ALL the day you get them. The surge will lessen in time, and completing everything immediately will save you from confusion and frustration in the future.
Hang an inexpensive, canvas shelf-bag displaying the days of the week from your closet rod, and encourage children to choose clothes for the entire week each Sunday. Don’t forget shoes and accessories!
EMOTIONS
If your child will be entering school for the first time, arrange to take her on a tour ahead of time. Becoming familiar with a new environment will take away some fear of the unknown. As the big day approaches, talk to your children to help them express any concerns they may have about the new school year. You may be able to solve some of these ahead of time.
If your child is very young, try reading him stories about the first day of school or separation anxiety. Pooh’s First Day of School by Kathleen W. Zoehfeld and The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn are both good examples.
REVIEW/PREPARE
Be sure your child is ready for the next level by reviewing what was learned last year. Have your child read each day to help get back into the swing of things. For younger children, review sight words.
For the last week or two before school starts, consider cutting way down on the amount of TV, computer, and video game time your child is used to. You may be surprised at how quickly your child’s ability to focus and listen improves. Your teacher will thank you for this.
Have younger children review newly-learned handwriting skills by writing a letter to their new teachers. This can also help to prepare the child emotionally for school by giving them something special to look forward to…giving the new teacher a gift!
HOMEWORK
A great idea one parent suggested was creating a homework folder for each child at home. She keeps a plastic colored folder with pockets and brads (3 in the middle) at home for each child with their name on it. She puts all homework assignments for the week into this folder, as well as study guides, practice sheets, website information, etc. At the end of the week, she cleans it out and starts over. It keeps each child's info separate, so she can keep up with it. Also, it’s convenient when the child knows exactly where to go to pull their homework assignment info.
Make sure each child has a special place to study, including a lamp, a trash can, a dictionary, and a computer if applicable, then schedule homework immediately after the after-school-snack. This way, even a child who does not yet have a clear concept of time knows what he or she should be doing. If no electronics are turned on until homework time is complete, the child is less likely to be “sucked into” the computer, video game, or television, and lose track of the time.
On days when your child has no homework, have him/her read a book, do a craft, draw a picture, write in a journal, or some other elective “brain chore” to reinforce the homework habit in a fun way. It is so hard to regain a habit once it is lost.
OTHER
Immunizations – be sure your child has updated shots, or registration will be difficult. You do not want to wait until the last minute to get these, as they are known to make some children feel bad for a few days (or even up to a week) after. No one wants to send a sick child to school.
MENU
Make breakfast mandatory. It’s too important to skip. In a hurry to get to school? Try to avoid the Pop Tart quick-fix, and consider Eggo Waffles instead. Just pop into the toaster oven, and bring it with you. I have never met a child who didn’t like these.
To save time and brain-power during the chaos of a busy week, consider planning meals significantly ahead of time. Type a week’s worth (or even a month’s worth) of meal plans into your computer with a grocery list of the supplies. Then at the beginning of each week (or month) you simply go to the computer, pick a week that looks yummy, and print. Just scratch off supplies you already have in the fridge or pantry before heading out to the grocery store.
Consider letting older children make simple breakfasts themselves, by placing needed items low so they can reach them. Suggestions include oatmeal, cereal, toast, and anything microwavable. This will give you time to change out of your bathrobe before carpool.
ONE LAST HURRAH
Many parents take the kids on a mini-vacation the weekend before school resumes. It adds a grand finale to the summer, and gives kids a fresh adventure to share with friends when they get back to school.
The night before school starts, spend the evening just enjoying your children. Play board games, watch a family movie together, bake cookies, or just talk and goof off. Remember, they are only young once, and before you know it, you will have to beg them to spend time with you. Spend the last bit of summer wisely with your children. Don’t waste a moment of it.
LINKS
- office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA101757551033.aspx. Templates for all of your back to school needs including calendars, checklists, medical records, emergency contact lists, sports team rosters, PTO agenda, teacher complaint forms, thank you notes to teachers, excuses from field trips, and more!
- school.familyeducation.com/back-to-school/school/34528.html. Resources to gauge your child’s readiness for kindergarten, meal tips for busy moms, back to school safety guidelines, and ideas for raising successful students.
- www.amazingmoms.com/htm/bts_main.htm. Suggestions for controlling back to school clutter, packing lunches your kids will eat, and controlling your child’s first-day jitters.
- www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/children-s-mental-health/back-to-school--tips-for-parents/back-to-school-tips-for-parents. Information on how to be a supportive parent to your child during what may be a difficult transition into the school year.
- parenting.kaboose.com/education-and-learning/back-to-school-countdown.html. Down-to-earth advice for parents of very young children who may be putting a child in school for the first time.
- www.schoolfamily.com/back2school. Checklists, suggestions for parent/teacher conferences, school week at a glance templates, studying solutions, and even suggestions for supplemental activities to enhance your child’s education. Material is categorized grade by grade.
- www.momadvice.com/blog/2008/08/back-to-school-free-menu-planner.html. Easy to use menu planner with recipes that look pretty kid-friendly. The rest of the website has valuable information on managing a family.
- school.discoveryeducation.com/homeworkhelp/homework_help_home.html. This is a neat website to use for any type of homework question your child may have. There are tabs at the top for each subject, making it easy to navigate.
Jerusha Bosarge is a sometimes-too-involved mother of four living in Madison, MS. Her hobbies are reading, writing, and girl scouting! Learn more about Jerusha on her website at www.jbosarge.com.
