It’s Back to School Time
With most school kids returning to the classroom for 2024 less than a week away, parents are scrambling to make sure the kids have everything they need to get off on the right foot.
Setting up a regular schedule and routines for your child will help them thrive at school and carry on throughout their lives. Heading back to school means a flood of new things all at once. New classes, new teachers, new classmates, and new after-school activities. Some kids adjust to the new school year better than others, but adapting to a new building or new students can be difficult especially if you are a younger child entering for the first time..
Heading back is never easy, so the support you show your kids can make a difference, and help prepare them for any difficulties they may encounter. Establishing a daily routine can be one of the best things you can do for them.
Routines give children a sense of control and safety by helping them prepare for the day ahead. It can also help them develop life skills, and improve social and emotional function. Set a regular time for them to wake up, go to the restroom, get dressed, and eat breakfast. Make sure they are ready and on time to catch the bus.
Most kids get to enjoy sleeping later during the summer months, so establishing earlier wake up times prior to school starting may help them ease back into the early morning routine.
Eating a good healthy breakfast is important for stronger performance in school and their overall health. Many kids eat breakfast and lunch at school five days a week. Regardless of where they eat, make sure they do.
Some kids who are on sports teams or involved in extracurricular activities spend most of their time at school and away from home. Keep close tabs on where they are and what they are doing. Check on their progress regularly and get involved as a parent. Kids need to know they have physical and emotional support on the sidelines.
After-school activities are an excellent way for your child to get active, socialize, and learn something new. Don’t become too involved and hinder what coaches and teachers are trying to accomplish. However never showing up or attending one or two events a year is not fully supporting your child.
Make sure they get plenty of rest and a good night’s sleep, plus time to do their homework and time to spend with friends.
Teach your kids to respect their teachers and other students. Learning to get along with others is a life lesson all children need to know. Set the example for them to follow! If they see you as an adult being disrespectful and lashing out at others or bashing others they will consider that normal behavior and will do the same.
Starting school for the first time is a frightening experience for many young kids. The first time away from home and around strangers can be overwhelming. Communicate with them every day to find out about their day. Listen to what they tell you and offer positive advice for them to follow to overcome any problems they may encounter. Ask them questions and provide them with answers to their questions. Even kids in the upper grades experience problems they don’t have solutions for. Stay in touch with them as they go through their school years. Do the best you can to help them through each day. Sometimes they will have things on their mind they don’t want to talk about. Stick with them and ask questions, try to find out what their upset or worried about. Could be as simple as a boy friend/girl friend breakup or it could be something bigger. Asking questions and just talking could save a life. Stay involved and help make it the best school year ever.