As the summer winds down, it’s time to start thinking about the start of the school year (insert children’s whine here). Get your kids off to the best start with these back to school tips!

1. EASE INTO THE ROUTINE
If your kids have been enjoying summertime sleep-ins, but the school-year wake-up time is much earlier, it might be wise to ease their way into an earlier rise and “shine”. Take a week to wake them up earlier each morning.

2. CREATE A MORNING SCHEDULE
If school mornings make your blood pressure rise and bring out your beast within, try making a fun poster-sized schedule for your child so they know exactly what they need to do and when. Not only will it take some pressure off of you, but it will help your child feel more independent. Your schedule might be something like:
7:00am – WAKE UP
7:20am – PUT DOWN THE IPAD AND EAT YOUR BREAKFAST
7:35am – FINISH EATING YOUR BREAKFAST, ALREADY
8:00am – GET DRESSED (with the clothes you laid out the night before)
8:10am – TELL YOUR MOMMA HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS
8:15am – GET YOUR SHOES ON AND GATHER YOUR THINGS
You get the gist…

3. GET YOUR TEACHER SUPPLY LIST EARLY
Check your school district website for your new teacher’s supply list and make a fun shopping day with your child. If it’s too painful to shop with them, make your spouse do it and go get a massage instead! Regardless, your child gets to have fun picking out pencils, notebooks, etc. While out shopping, pick out a fun first-day-back outfit to help your child get excited for the big day.

4. SET GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
Sit down with your child and ask them what they’d like to accomplish in the coming year. Make a list of 10 things they’d like to be able to cross off their list. Examples might include reading 20 books, getting an A on their first test, making 10 new friends, etc.

5. ASK YOUR CHILD WHAT CONCERNS THEM
Sometimes life gets in the way of us taking the time to really talk with our kids about their concerns. Take a moment to ask your child if they are feeling anxious about anything in the coming year. Are they worried they won’t like their new teacher, or won’t make new friends? This will give you a great opportunity to address those concerns you may not have even known your child had.

 

read more at buckscountyalive.com