Monday, August 20, 2012

Back to School

Well, it's that time of year again.  Summer is almost over and parents are rearranging closets and drawers to make room for new school clothes they have to buy.  All the summer activities are coming to an end and it's almost time to enroll children in the fall activities.  This transition can be a little overwhelming for children, but especially stressful for parents.  There are things parents can do to make it a little easier.

Two weeks before school starts parents can start to transition their children into the back to school routine.  Put them to bed at an appropriate time and wake them up early the next morning.  Talk to children about what to expect when school starts so there's no surprises.  Spend some time of each day doing educational activities with them to get them used to doing school work.  For example, I have a four year old (she's turning five in November) and she goes to senior kindergarten in September.  She started practicing writing her name and I noticed she still needs help with her "s" so I'm going to do worksheets with her so she's prepared.

Talking to children about all their friends at school helps gets them excited about going.  Take them shopping for new clothes and shoes and have fun with it.  If they're like my daughter, they will get excited about all the new clothes and shoes they will get to wear.  If they're going to school for the first time assure them they will have fun and make new friends and that you will be back very soon to pick them up.  Of course, sometimes the first day of school is emotionally harder for the parents.

2 comments:

  1. Whenever I go back to school, since I am in high school, I always get butterflies in my stomach that never seem to go away. Also, my last summer days are spent going to the extremes of the holidays, like sleeping in past noon and getting constant sugar highs and going out often with friends and eating a ton till I feel sick. But that is just me, you have a young daughter and I am happy that you take such good care of her. :)

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  2. eek... as a student it was groaning moments. now working as the school librarian, all I could think of is, OMG I haven't done much!

    hiya I'm your new follower

    Lisa @ When She Reads
    http://when-she-reads.blogspot.com/

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