After a long lazy summer of staying
up later and sleeping in longer-it will soon be time
to return to the routine of going back to school.
The first day of school makes most children feel a
variety of different emotions. They are excited to see
their friends, nervous about how the day is going to
go, worried about new teachers and school work. You,
as their parent, can help make the transition back to
school an easier one.
Reset your child's body clock: About a week or so before
school will be starting, you should be adjusting your child’s schedule
so that they go to bed at the time they will need to during the school year
and waking up when they will need to for school. This will help reset their
body’s clock.
Mark your child's school supplies with his/her name: Help
your child mark their name on all their supplies. To make it easier on them,
do not load their book bag with all their supplies for the first day.
Get his book bag ready: Inside their book bag, along with
their name, you should mark the bag with your home, work and/or cell phone
number. If they will be riding the bus, write the bus number on an easy to
find area on their bag. Show this information to your child so they know if
they ever forget it, it is available.
Take a tour of the school: Another way to help alleviate
some of your child’s concerns is to do a tour of the school a few days
before class starts. This is especially important if your child has transferred
schools or is graduating to a new grade. (i.e. Junior High/High School) Walk
around and see where all the different rooms are. If your child will be riding
the bus, look to see where they will be picked up and dropped off at the school.
Show him how to use a combination lock: If your child will
have a locker this year, a great way to prepare them is to buy a combination
lock and instruct them how to use one.
The First Day of School Survival Tips
The night before their first day, have everything
ready for in the morning. Have a bath or shower before
bed. Lay out the outfit they will be wearing along
with shoes, socks and underwear. Pack the next day’s
lunch. Write a short note and place it inside their
lunch. You can say anything you wish. Some examples
could be: “Hope you’re having a wonderful
first day of School,” “Thinking of you
on your big day!”
The morning of the big day, get up a little bit
early yourself. Begin waking your child up so that
they have plenty of time to get ready, eat breakfast
and prepare for the day without feeling rushed.
If your child will be riding the bus, have them
out at their stop at least 15 minutes prior to the
scheduled pick up time. Pick up times are just estimates-it
may take your child’s driver less time than
estimated to do their route.
To make your child’s first day of school more
memorable, do something simple and special for them.
This could mean cooking their favorite food for dinner,(regardless
of what it is) stopping at the store and picking up
something inexpensive or even celebrating the occasion
by going out to eat or getting ice cream.
When your child comes home, chances are, they are
going to be bringing oodles and oodles of paperwork
with them for you to fill out. Try to complete them
as soon as possible as many of them will be health
and emergency information forms. Be sure to inform
the person you are going to put down as an emergency
contact.
Set up our expectations right away in regards to
study time and homework. Stick to these expectations.
If our child will require help with their homework,
set aside time just for them so that it can be accomplished.
Children tend to do better when they start working
on their homework right when they get home instead
of putting it off for a later time.
Continue to stay in the same routine every night
as you did the first day, bathe at night, lay out
wardrobe and wake up at a time so that breakfast and
everything else can be accomplished without feeling
rushed.
