Advantage Newsletter - August 2009

Preparing for Back-to-School Time

Preparing for School It’s already that time of year again—back-to-school time. If you have school-aged children, you’re probably gearing up for the new school year. The more organized you are, the smoother the transition will be for you and your children. And, when there’s fun involved in the preparation, your children will be more excited to get back into the school frame-of-mind. Here are some helpful tips on preparing for back-to-school time:

  1. Get organized. Being prepared will help reduce anxiety for both you and your children. It will also increase your children’s motivation level and encourage them to get excited about going back to school. Make a to-do list with your children, and then work through the items together. Take your children shopping to pick out school supplies and food for their lunches. At home, you can pack lunches together.

  2. Get back into routines. Typically, there are not as many routines during the summer, so several weeks before school begins, practice routines that are important to have in place during the school year. Practice school bedtimes a week before school starts so your children have adequate time to establish their sleep routine.

  3. Choose a constructive area in your home with minimal distractions for your children to do homework. It can be a desk or table just as long as there is room to spread out. Make sure that there is good lighting and that they have the proper supplies.

  4. Plan a special event to celebrate the end of summer and welcome the new school season. This will show your children that you are excited about the opportunities that the new school season will bring. As a result, your children will be more enthusiastic and ready to start school.
When you take the extra time to make preparations before school begins, you’ll find that both you and your children will have more free time to enjoy once school is in session.