SCHOOL BELLS WILL BE RINGING!
"THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY STATE IS THE EDUCATION OF ITS YOUTH!"
Diogenes
How time flies! Parents are busily purchasing school supplies and new duds for the growing youngsters! Department stores barely get the shelves cleared of red, white, and blue before the new shipment of backpacks are put on display!
Much to your child's dismay, his carefree days will soon give way to routines, responsibilities, and concentration on academic subjects. The entire family will be required to make adjustments as youngsters embark on a new school year.
Fortunately, a little pre-planning can help ease the transition from summer fun to school readiness. In fact, a smooth beginning can help minimize a child's stress levels throughout the year!
BACK TO SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS FROM THIS SCHOOL COUNSELOR:
- Before school begins, get back into a regular routine. Slowly begin to re-set your child's sleep cycles by going to bed and arising at times that approximate school year routines.
- Re-establish regular meal times. Proper nutrition and decreasing caffeine intake that may have increased over the summer can help to decrease feelings of anxiousness.
- Read with your child at a scheduled time each day. Discussions about the reading passages will help gear up critical thinking skills.
- Encourage discussions about expectations, concerns, and anticipations of attending school at the new grade level.
- Attend the scheduled Back-to-School night.
- Allow your child to help you in selecting and purchasing school supplies. Properly label all of your child's belongings. Lost items can cause a lot of worry of kids.
- Take your child for a school visit. If possible, meet the upcoming classroom teacher. Walk through the hallways discussing locations of restrooms, cafeteria, media center, gym, computer labs, etc. Play on the playground equipment. Take your child's play pal on this visit to help ease the anxiety of knowing other children.
- Say a prayer!