Preparing for the First Day of School

Preparing for the First Day of School: Back to School Guide

Every year, children everywhere dust off their backpacks, sharpen their pencils and prepare for school. But going back to school isn't always fun and it can be a bit stressful for everyone in the family. Forgetting the lazy days of summer, and getting into the routine of school can throw every child for a loop, but there are things you can do to help your child ease into the school routine. Here are several ways to make sure your child is prepared and ready for his first day of school.

Preparing for the First Day of School Tip #1:

Establish a bedtime and wake up time and start getting your child into his new routine about 2 weeks before school starts. Have him in bed by 8:00 pm and up by 6:30 am every day so that his body and his mind will get used to the new schedule. This is the single most effective way to combat frustrating school mornings and end the endless fights and struggles over getting out of bed. It is hard for children to reset their clocks overnight. Providing them with 2 weeks to get used to things will ensure that they get a running start on their first day of school.

Preparing for the First Day of School Tip #2:

If your child is a bit reluctant to begin school, try making it fun by taking her shopping for all the essential school supplies she will need. Encourage her to pick out special school pencils, crayons, and notebooks. Let her be as involved as she wants in preparing for her first day of school. Allow her to be creative and decorate her backpack, notebooks and pencil cases. Make those items off limits and only to be used when school starts. This will give your child something to look forward to on her first day of school.

Preparing for the First Day of School Tip #3:

Review old lessons. If you haven't been reviewing old lessons throughout the summer, now is a good chance to do so. About 2 weeks before school starts, try setting aside an hour or two a day to go over math, English and history. Rent historical movies and encourage them to play educational video games so that they can brush up on their math and grammar skills. By reviewing their old curriculum, your children will be better prepared on their first day. They will find the first few weeks of school easy and the good grades they get at first will be an encouraging way for them to start the new school year. It will also make it easier for your children to keep up in class and stay ahead of their classmates.

If despite all of your best preparation, your children still have difficulty on their first day of school, don't worry. Many children need a few weeks to a month to get back into the swing of things. There may be battles and struggles over bedtime; mood swings after school, and an assortment of " I don't want to". But if you take the time to prepare for school, chances are those struggles will be fewer. The first day of school can be a fun and exciting day, or it can be a dreaded occasion. The more you can prepare your child for her first day of school, the better off you both will be. And that is an A+ in my book!