The ABC's of Back to School Time

Back to School time is here. For many parents, this time of year brings smiles and relief; for children this time of year often brings tension, nervousness, and stress. Tried and true methods for helping your child get back into the routine of school are well known by most of us, but it always helps to review them.

Ease Back Into School Days

The summer luxury of sleeping in is difficult to give up. This is true for parents too. Help ease the transition back into early mornings slowly. Start moving up the bedtime hour about two weeks before the first day of school, and conversely, have the wake up time earlier as well.

The Daily Routine

What works for one family will probably NOT work for another! What is important about a routine is that it fits into your family's lifestyle. If after school is filled with sports, games, clubs, dance lessons, etc.... then homework will have to wait until evening. If after school is relatively a calm time, homework could be scheduled for right after a snack, Someday will probably have a quiet period after school, say for an hour or so, then come practices, games, lessons, etc... It may be best to pick a time for homework later in the evening, everyday, so that it is consistent. Figure out what works best in your family, and stick to it. A tip for setting a homework time is to try and not make it too late in the evening, when kids will be tired and burned out. If older kids have a lot of after school activities, remind them homework will have to be done and checked by ------:o'clock every night, period. Establish routine and consistency.

Homework Niches

Parents have always been reminded to create an area conducive to learning. Optimally this will be a quiet area that your child can feel comfortable working in. This doesn't necessarily have to be in the child's bedroom, however. It could be a nook in the kitchen, or a corner in the living room. Try to have a desk or table that your child can use. Have a nice lamp, sharp pencils ready to go in a cute holder, tape dispenser, and maybe some markers, and other assorted school supplies. A dictionary would be great as well. Make the area inviting and inspiring. Always try and review the homework instructions together, and be sure to review the work when it is done. A good idea is to ALWAYS make sure the homework is in the backpack before bed, so as to lessen early morning confusion!

Stay Connected

Something that works well with elementary school children are weekly progress reports. Some teachers already will have incorporated these into their classroom practices. Usually sent home with your child on Fridays, it will be simple and clear to understand. It will indicate if all homework was turned in for the week, and also if all class work has been satisfactorily completed. It should also indicate behavior problems/notices that may have arisen that week. There should be plenty of room for parents to reply/make comments. There should also be a place for your signature. Perhaps if your child's teacher does not offer this, you could suggest it . You could print up some to take to your child's teacher for their use.

Email is a good alternative these days for both teachers and parents. Make sure you exchange email addresses early in the year!

Praise and Praise Again

Encourage excellence in your scholar with praise every chance you get. We've all been told to hang up artwork and papers displaying good grades on our refrigerators, and while we should always continue to do that, do not forget to rotate. The same paper on the refrigerator from September will just look like its been neglected come March. Celebrate with ice cream when a good report comes in, or a sleepover with some friends.

Enjoy These School Days

The last little tip: school days go fast.... so will this stage in your child's life! Enjoy the moments. . Relish in this unique special year of your child's life. Try and work in the classroom (younger kids LOVE having mommy or daddy helping!), and/or accompany on field trips. Treasure each day that is hectic and full.... these will soon enough become nostalgic memories that you will cherish.