It can be hard to go from the lax days of summer into the structured routine of the school year. A little preparation beforehand can save a lot of stress later.
Just Starting Out
For little ones, starting school for the first time can make them particularly anxious. To help younger children adjust, be sure to go over new or unfamiliar things with them before hand. Show them how to open their lunchboxes and all the little containers that go inside. Go over what foods should be eaten first (or they will go right for the pudding cup)! Think about things like which clothes may be too hard for them to unbutton on their own (especially when it is time for potty). Go over the school day routine with them and talk about pick up time procedures.
Get Kids Involved
Allow older elementary kids to get in on the preparation of school. Have them pick out and organize new school supplies. Try to set up play dates with children who will be in their class. This is especially important for shy children or if their best friends will not be in their same class.
Set the Stage
Set up an area for homework and stock it with supplies ahead of time. Buy some extra project supplies as well, this will help once the craziness of the school year begins and that big project that they forgot to mention is due tomorrow. Shower caddies are great for holding school supplies and can be easily moved from the kitchen table to a desk if homework is done in different areas.
No matter how busy the schedule gets, try to sit down for a family dinner. This is a great time to learn about what happened during the school day. Once a week or so, help children go through backpacks and binders and organize them, throwing out what is not needed. This will help kids learn how to keep and stay organized on their own.
Start Out Right
Designate an area in the house for school notices, permission slips, etc. A basket or folder works great. This way mom or dad knows what needs to be looked at or signed and returned to the backpacks. When the whole family is involved, kids tend to thrive at school. Starting the school year out organized sets the tone for the rest of the year and helps ease the stress of the transition back to school
Lisa Milordo - My name is Lisa Milordo and I have been a freelance writer for over ten years. I started out writing copy and headlines for a large direct ...
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