A Few Early Suggestions For A Good Start To The School Year

By Susan Coney

Summertime is coming to an end, and the transition of beginning a new school year is typically met with mixed feelings of excitement, anticipation, and even fear. With a little bit of planning and preparation, heading back to school can be a smoother, less stressful experience for the entire family.

A few tips and reminders can make heading back to the classroom a bit easier. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents may elevate fears by reminding their child that they are not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. With a little encouragement children may actually admit that they are excited at the prospect of returning to school, seeing old friends and starting a new adventure in learning. Even so the transition between summer’s easy-going schedule and school’s more rigorous demands can be challenging.

Parents should set a bedtime schedule and adhere to it before school starts so that children are well rested for the busy days that lie ahead. By the same token, attempting to set an eating schedule can also improve the transition by setting aside time to sit down as a family and share a meal, giving children an opportunity to share the events of the day and any concerns they may have.

Before school starts parents may want to sit down and discuss rules with their children regarding homework, curfew times, telephone/cell phone rules, and computer usage as well as extra curricular activities in which they may want to participate. Purchasing a large calendar, hung in a prominent place, to record everyone’s schedule helps in further planning and keeping tabs on the whereabouts of each member of the family.

To help in alleviating first day back-to-school jitters, parents should make certain that their child has completed any summer reading or math packets that are typically sent home to keep skills fresh. Preferably these assignments have been ongoing throughout the summer; these are, however, the types of things that are often overlooked during the lazy days of summer.

Another way to help allay fears when starting off the new year is to spend just a few minutes a day reviewing basic skills such as flash card drill of math facts, a quick reteaching of the multiplication or long division process, or any other skill that is an area of weakness. Reviewing the importance of keeping on top of upcoming assignments from the start and providing a refresher course on note taking and organizational strategies can go a long way in helping your child meet the rigors of another academic year.

On a lighter note, back-to-school shopping can be lots of fun. If you are excited about the new year, that excitement will be contagious. Allow your child to participate in the process of shopping for new school supplies. If possible, obtain a class list of required supplies that are often available at your child’s school office as soon as possible. It saves time and is less stressful if you can beat the rush that is sure to occur at the local supply store by shopping ahead of time. At the very least get a few new basics such as pencils, paper, pens, and markers; every child loves to have new school supplies. Let your child buy that special cartoon character folder to help foster the excitement.

Be certain to check shoe sizes; children have a tendency to shoot up unexpectedly over the summer and have spent most of their time running barefoot or wearing flip-flops. Allow your child to have some say in choosing new clothing for the school year. Offer choices of clothing that you can afford and both you and your child can agree on.

An important reminder to parents, especially in the first few weeks of school when things seem to be extremely hectic, make certain your child has a good breakfast. For children breakfast is crucial. Children who do not each breakfast become tired in school and have shorter attention spans. Breakfast helps to improve mental performance and concentration during morning activities. Studies show that children who eat breakfast regularly perform better in school and have the extra energy necessary for sports and other physical activities. A good diet also assures optimal development and growth, and has been proven to increase performance on standardized achievement tests.

If your child is not hungry in the morning try to have them drink a glass of orange juice or milk and see that they eat at least a small amount of cereal, fruit, yogurt, or eggs. In a pinch a slice of cheese between two slices of whole grain bread and a glass of juice will suffice to provide your child with the protein and energy needed to start the day and carry them through to lunchtime.

Encourage your child to be a self-sufficient learner. Provide a positive, nondistracting homework atmosphere. Let your child know you are interested in the work they are doing in school but avoid providing them with too much help. The Newtown school system provides students in grades three through the high school with a student planner. The student planner is vitally important in helping to keep the child on track and organized. Included in the planner is a calendar for the school year, showing holidays and other pertinent information. The handbook provides an extensive wealth of information and also lists the school rules and expectations. Students and parents should review the information laid out in the handbook at the start of the school year.

 Parents should check their child’s planner periodically because that is where the children are required to record homework assignments and important events such as open houses and field trips. If your child struggles to complete and hand in homework on a timely basis the planner is the first place a parent should look for assistance.

By taking a little extra time to think about how to make the most of the fresh start given to every child at the beginning of a new year keep in mind that getting off to a positive start can make for a successful year full of all types of wondrous new experiences for your child. In the words of basketball hero Michael Jordan, “Success isn’t something you chase. It’s something you have to put forth the effort for constantly.”