Getting back into your School Year Routine

By Susanne Myers

Even though it is still hot as can be, summer is slowly coming to an end, at least as far as the summer break is concerned. If you’ve opened a newspaper this weekend, you couldn’t have missed this for all the “Back to School” sales offers. Here are a few tips to make the transition back into a school year routine a little easier on you and your family.

Start adjusting your child’s sleeping schedule to slowly get her back to school year bedtime. You should be able to move her bedtime by about 30 minutes every few days. See our bedtime routine article if your child has trouble adjusting to the new sleep schedule.

Review schoolwork from last year. Make this fun. Get out some of the papers, worksheets etc that your child has brought home with her the last few weeks or even months of the school year. Tell her you just wanted to see what she had accomplished last year. Challenge her to duplicate some of the work. Make it a competition between the two of you. “Let’s see which one of us can do 10 of these math problems and make the least mistakes”. To keep her excited and motivated, make sure you loose most of the time.

Take your kids with you when you go “back to school” shopping. Let them pick some supplies and clothing for the new school year. They’ll look forward to showing their friends all the cool new stuff they got.

To get them even more excited to go back to school and see their friends, talk to them about all the great things they are going to learn this year. You can also create a scrapbook, storybook or memory box with them about everything they did this summer to share with friends at school.

Pay attention to your child’s reaction when you bring going back to school up. Address any anxiety or even fear she might have about the first day of school. Especially if she starts going to a new school, she may be more nervous about the first day then she’ll let you know.

Call in a family meeting to let everyone know what you expect from them on a daily and weekly basis during the new school year. Make your homework policy clear. Can they visit friends or go out first, or does homework have to be done right after school? What chores do you expect them to take on this year? Offer a reward like a family game night or a movie night as a weekly/monthly reward if everyone cooperates. If you’d like you can put all this in writing and post it on the fridge as a constant reminder throughout the year.

Get the school year off to a positive start by having a special celebration the evening after the first day of school. You can take the family out on a picnic, or go out for ice cream after dinner. If you announce this special celebration ahead of time, it will give your kids something fun to look forward to after the dreaded first day of school.

10 Tips For A Great First Day Of School

By Sheree Marty

Many children are jittery on the first day of school. Listed are ways to prepare your child for the big day!
# Read books about school.
# Talk to other children about school, especially siblings or neighborhood friends. These “experts” can help answer any questions your child might ask.
# Visit the school and the classroom prior to the first day.
# Introduce your child to the new teacher before the first day of school.
# Use structure to foster independence.

• Establish a regular bedtime at least two weeks before the start of school.

• Establish an unhurried morning routine to help your child get ready -and feel ready-to take on the school day.

# Practice the school drop-off and pick-up procedure with your child.
# Play school! Role play imagined school scenes, such as asking restroom permission or walking quietly in the hall.
# Transitional objects encourage and support the child through the school day.

• Select school supplies together, such as backpacks or lunchboxes.

• Place a family photo or special note inside your child’s lunchbox.

# Plan to say good-bye quickly. Children are quick to “pick up” signs of hesitation by parents and may become upset. MAKE THE SEPARATION CLEAN.”
# Take a short time out at the end of the day and discuss your child’s big adventure!

Congratulations! You made it through Day One!

Even the most prepared child may have second thoughts about crossing the threshold of the classroom. He or she may become shy,clingy, or tearful. If a parent anticipates the child may need extra support, discuss your concerns with the teacher BEFORE the first day. Short term support arrangements can be developed between parent, teacher, and other school support personnel, such as the school counselor,should separation difficulties continue beyond the first days of school.

Such arrangements might include:

* Allow the child to bring a “parent surrogate” to school, an object that provides security to the child, such as a stuffed animal or favorite blanket.
* Arrange to have a friendly face meet your child at the school entrance and escort the student to class. Praise your child for entering the class independently!

Should your child demonstrate distress at separation, keep in mind, most departure behavior ends shortly after the parent departs. Contact your child’s teacher later in the day to confirm the length of time your child continues to cry or refuse join the classroom activities. If your child settles down quickly, the chances that departure behavior will improve each day is good, if the parent sticks by the established good-bye routine.

If the teacher reports your child continues to demonstrate distress in ways that impacts your child’s participation and enjoyment of the day or is disruptive to the academic environment of fellow classmates, ask for advice from the school on what you ALL can do, as a team, to establish a positive entry into school.

One year or more at school will leave most children feeling more at ease with predictable separations and more confident in their own budding social an cognitive skills. Believe it or not, a week or so into summer vacation, don’t be surprised when your child says, “I’m really miss going to school!”

Sheree S. Marty has worked with elementary school children as a school counselor for the past nine years. A physical education teacher for thirteen years, Ms. Marty earned her Master degree in Counseling in 2000. Ms. Marty is the author and owner of “Chinese Jump Rope”, a childrens games book and website. For more information, visit http://chinesejumprope.tripod.com

Early Childhood Education

Your child is very receptive to learning at a young age. Take advantage of this fact by starting your child’s education early.

Potty Training Tips
Potty Training Advice and Tips From Moms & Dads Like You.
Start Your Child’s Education Early

Studies have shown that the most important period of a child’s life is their first five years. Children are capable of learning from a very early age, so it is ideal to expose them to a nurturing and educational environment during those years. By providing an environment that is fun-filled, safe and stimulating, you can ensure that your child gets off to a great start.

While adults typically think of play-time as a form of entertainment, it can actually teach your child a great deal about themselves and the world around them. Believe it or not, playing peek-a-boo is actually beneficial for your child. The earlier a child develops these skills, the more significant the long term impact will be.

Self-esteem, confidence, coordination, problem-solving skills, and social skills, are but a few examples of the benefits that can be gained through play. Self esteem can be enhanced by responding affectionately to your child’s actions. Whether they coo, gurgle, burp, cry or smile, giving your child a positive reaction and providing lots of enthusiasm will have incredible benefits.

Physical coordination can be developed by changing your child’s position, and allowing him/her the opportunity to move about. Encourage movement and mobility at an early age by placing toys and objects a short distance away from your child. Giving your child different toys with different shapes, textures and colors will encourage interaction and help develop physical coordination. There are many toys on the market specifically designed to stimulate creative thought and action.

Playing hide-and-seek can help your child develop problem solving skills. By placing a toy behind your back and encouraging your baby to find it, you will give your child an early appreciation for cause and effect. Also by giving a baby a rattle, the baby will comprehend they can make noise by themselves if they shake it. An understanding of cause and effect will put your child on the right path to a lifetime of learning.

As your child grows older, consider giving your child some household duties or chores. A child as young as two can start to learn the meaning of responsibility. Use the word “special” frequently and give them age-appropriate tasks such as handing out napkins at the dinner table. Be sure to encourage your child through positive affirmation of his/her actions.

The following are other general tips to enhance the developmental stages of your young child’s life:

• Go to the library with your child to pick out a book, and then read it together.

• Encourage your child to explore arts and crafts to develop their creative side.

• The internet is a great educational tool for children. There are some great sites out there!

• Watch TV with your child and talk about what they see on screen.

• Buy them educational toys.

• Allow your child the opportunity to interact with other children regularly.

Rachel Thompson is the proud mother of two young children, and a regular contributing writer for thebabydepartment.com – a wonderfully informative online resource for parents with information about baby products, crib safety, educational toys and more.

Additional Resources:

Baby Sleep Secrets
Learn how to get your baby to sleep through the night with just a few tweak and finally get that good night sleep you both need and deserve.

Supernanny Secrets
Super Parenting Strategies, based on the Supernanny.

How to Potty Train Your Child in Five Hours
Discover the steps and secrets to having your own child potty trained in five hours or less.

Proven Picky Eater Strategies and Recipes
Having a hard time getting your child to eat veggies and fruits. Here you will find the strategies and recipes that helped us turn our child into a veggie lover.

Wow Dad
Have fun with your kids anywhere anytime.

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