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Back to School 2008
A Published Article on August 18, 2008 by Phil House
Back-to-School – The Summer vacation is over the school year is here
Even though it is still hot, summer vacation will soon come to an end and the school year will begin. A good start can help your child’s attitude, peer adjustment and academic performance. In spite of excitement about the new school year, it is frequently difficult for children to transition from summer activities and schedule, back to school with its increased structure and pressure. The degree of struggle depends on the child, but parents can help manage the adjustment by planning ahead and being positive. Here are a few thoughts to ease the transition back to school.
Medical: Make sure medical and dental needs are taken care of as your child begins the new school year. In addition to physical concerns, discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s emotional or psychological development with their pediatrician, and determine if they are normal concerns or require further assessment and intervention. School staff appreciate parent efforts to identify and remedy physical and mental health problems as soon as they are recognized.
School Information: As information arrives in the mail from your child’s school, review it. Pay attention to room assignments, school supply requirements, fall sports and activity schedules and sign ups, school calendar dates, bus transportation, various health and information forms, and school volunteer opportunities for you as a parent.
School Supplies: Buy the basics such as paper, pencils and pens, during the sales. Make sure you use the school checklists so that you do not purchase items that are not required or allowed. Save the receipts so you may return items if necessary. Be careful not to buy all the latest “fad” supplies, wasting your money.
Bedtime and Wake-Up Routines: Re-establish bedtime and rising times and routines before school begins. Talk with your child(ren) about the benefits of school routines and getting used to them before school starts. Be sure and include pre-sleep reading and wind-down routines in the evening.
Electronics: Reduce the time spent watching television and playing electronic toys and games, switching to more quiet games, puzzles, flash cards, drawing, coloring and reading. This helps your child ease into the school learning process.
Clothes for School: Buy the essentials because summer clothes are typically fine for the first weeks of school. Be sure to have one good pair of sturdy shoes. Check with the school regarding dress code guidelines so that you do not end up with extremely tight pants, short skirts and shorts, low rise pants, bare midriffs, spaghetti strap or halter tops, exposed undergarments, and clothing with inappropriate messages.
Places to Keep Backpacks and Do Homework: Designate a spot in your home for your child to place their school belongings and put important notices, school papers, and information. Emptying their backpack each evening is part of the school-day job of your child. Younger children usually need a homework area set aside in the kitchen or family room where parent monitoring, supervision and encouragement can be obtained. Older children should have the option of studying in their bedroom or a quiet area of the home, if they are developing responsibility for their assigned schoolwork.
Clear the Parental Schedule: The first week of school it is helpful for parents to clear their schedules of business trips, extra or extended day’s work, volunteer work, evening group meetings, and visits with friends. Parents need to be readily available to their children, helping them acclimate to the new school routine, and being available to discuss adjustment issues.
Lunches and Alarm Clocks: Make lunches the night before if lunches are taken. Allow your child to participate in the selection of lunch contents (within reason), if you expect them to eat it. Older children should help or make their own lunch. Have your child set their own alarm clock to get up in the morning and review the morning schedule with them the night before, and then again upon their rising. Praise them for prompt rising and healthy response to morning schedules and bus pickups.
Extra Time: Make sure there is some extra time in the morning routine for the unexpected. You and your child do not need a hurried, pressured beginning of the day.
After School: In the morning, review with your child what the routine will be after school. If you are not there or they go to daycare, be very specific, particularly with younger children. Pin a note in their backpack with names and phone numbers of supportive neighbors or relatives who are home during the day and numbers to reach parents at work. Have your child meet neighbors to reaffirm the backup support personally.
Review School Books: Take a look at your child’s school books when they first bring them home and talk about what they will be learning during the year. Share enthusiasm for the subjects and your confidence in your child’s abilities and growing skills. Reinforce the progression of the learning process, recognizing that learning academic skills takes time and repetition. Encourage your child to be patient, attentive and positive at school. Be supportive of their teachers and school administrators.
Contact the Teacher: Send a brief note to the teacher(s) letting them know your interest in getting regular feedback on your child. Find out how they like to communicate with parents (e-mail, telephone calls or notes). Be sure to attend back-to-school night in the Fall and introduce yourself to teachers and other school staff. Convey a sincere desire to be part of the schooling/learning process of your child. Familiarize yourself with other school staff including the principal, school secretary and other office staff, counselor and school psychologist, reading specialist, and speech therapist.
Anxiety: If your child is anxious about school, let them know it is natural to be a little anxious about something new, but also reassure them that they will cope and adjust. Assure them that their teacher(s) and other school staff, as well as you as a parent will be there for encouragement and support. Reinforce their ability to cope and model optimism and confidence for your child. Help them to understand that anxiety reduces with time and familiarity. If the first few days are rough, try not to overreact. Stay steady yourself. Young children commonly experience separation anxiety, but will adjust with time. If you drop them off at school, do not linger. Let them know you love them and will see them after school. Remain calm and positive. If your child had a negative experience with some aspect of the previous year in school, share this with the current teacher(s), principal and school counselor, and confirm that the problem has been addressed. If problems emerge, work with your child to deal with them, and also seek support from their teacher(s) and school staff. For younger children, arrange some play get-togethers with a selected few of your child’s classmates as school starts, to help your child re-establish positive social relationships with peers.
In summary, plan for the return of your child back to school and then actively work the plan with your child, .
Dr. Phil House
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