Back to School
>From swimsuits and towels to lunches and backpacks, it's that
time of year again! That's right, it's time to get ready for
school. Whether you are ready for it mentally or not, it's time
to prepare for a smooth transition from summer activities to the
regular routine of school. It can be a transition time of chaos
and frustration or it can be a time of organization and
anticipation. It's your choice and it all begins with a little
planning. Start by thinking through a few things and making a
few lists.
Re-evaluate the Routines Has the summer sunshine allowed for
later bedtimes for your family? I know it has in our family and
with school starting up, the kids probably need a little more
sleep for their brains to function properly and for them to soak
in all the learning at school. It doesn't have to be drastic,
but a small change in schedule can make all the difference. For
example, if your child has been going to bed at 10:00, move the
time back to 9:30 this week with some room for reading books in
bed prior to turning out the lights. Then the weekend prior to
school starting, you can move the bedtime even earlier,
depending on the age and needs of your child. Or, it may be that
your morning routine needs some thought. Here's a link for some
thoughts on the importance of a Morning Routine.
Maybe the summer months have also brought so much fun that the
household routines need some freshening as well. Take five
minutes per family member to think through important household
chores that need to be done to make a smooth transition. Maybe a
morning chore needs to be added to their list. Maybe shifting
the chores around a bit would make a difference. For example, in
our home, having lunches ready daily is a big deal. So instead
of making them in the morning before everyone has to leave, we
make them in the afternoons for the next day. The older kids
make their own lunches, but occasionally mom makes the lunches
and throws in a special treat. Think about the pressure points
in your family's life and arrange the chores to relieve those
pressure points. For our family, having matching socks on a
daily basis can sometimes be a source of conflict. You know the
scenario where Johnny's looking everywhere for a matching pair
of socks. If this is a sore spot, it can be alleviated by simply
adding an afternoon or evening chore of matching socks together
while watching an after-school program on television or making
it an incentive chore by adding some competition. For example,
the most matched socks in a five-minute period wins a privilege
or an award or something like that. For more ideas on freshening
up your household chore routine, check out our Chore Game and
Interactive Chore Chart. One or both of these tools may be just
what it takes to get and stay organized in the area of chores!
Get those School Supplies Pick up the school supply list
provided by your child's school. Begin by taking inventory of
what you already have. Where are those supplies that your
children brought home last Spring? You know, the leftover glue
stick and notebook paper. If they are in a bag or drawer, simply
pull them out and sort them on a table top. If you've already
done this, great! Once you've checked off what you already have,
you're ready to go shopping. Be sure and consider your school
supply budget and stick to the list because it can be tempting
at the store to buy all kinds of things that are really
unnecessary. Once you've got the supplies, be sure to label them
with your child's name and help get them to your child's
classroom (desk, etc.).
Shop for School Clothes Again, take an inventory of what you
already have. This will probably mean pulling out the fall
clothes and packing away some of the summer items. Then, make a
shopping list and consult the budget. Have fun shopping with
your child and take the opportunity to train them in shopping
skills. Children can start learning how to pick out clothes and
shop on a budget at any age. Look at the store flyers together
and plan out your shopping trip. It may take several trips to
several places, so don't wait until the day before school
starts, or you may end up with added stress in the family.
Attend School Prep Meetings Most schools have a parent
preparation meeting prior to school starting. Attending these
meetings goes a long way toward answering your questions and
helping your child be ready for school. If possible, introduce
your child to their teacher prior to the first day of school.
The first day back to school can be unsettling for any child, so
anything you can do to set them at ease will help with the
nerves and emotions of returning to school.
Most important of all, love your child through the transition
back to school. With a little planning, you can provide
inspiration and encouragement to help make it an enjoyable time
for everyone in your family.