The transition from backyard barbecues to testing and textbooks can be difficult.
While summer is a time for relaxing, it’s important for parents to start easing their kids back into school routines in August.
“Make a visual schedule so the kids can see what their day will look like. Go over your expectations and talk about what is going to happen,” said Karen Larsen, parent coach at Community Links.
“They need to know what to expect. Answer their questions if they have any anxiety or fears. If it is a new school, practice the route and tell them what door to go in.”
Some children may get anxiety about heading back to school, she added. If kids have spent a lot of time away from their classmates, organizing a get together with a few friends will help get them excited about going back to school. If they are worried about other things, make sure to keep the lines of communication open to help ease them through the transition and plan to take them out for a celebratory dinner or ice cream after the first day of school to discuss how it went.
Another important shift to make towards the end of the summer is in lifestyle habits. Depending on age, children might be allowed to stay up later and be able to sleep in longer during the summer. To help combat problems that might arise during school, parents can begin increasing children’s wake–up times by 15 minutes or so every week throughout the last half of August.
The same goes for setting earlier bedtimes.
“One of the things we suggest is establishing clear routines towards the end of August,” said Larsen.
“It’s important to gradually change bed times so it is not a rude awakening.”
Set up a study area for your children. Keep the study area free of distractions, such as TV, videogames and phones. Make sure that the area is well lit and equipped with all the necessary supplies, including a dictionary, thesaurus, pens and paper or a laptop. Establish a consistent homework routine from the start. Schedule daily homework times so they become a part of your family’s routine. This also helps children to see that homework is a priority in your home.
“You need to establish routines of when they are going to do homework and parents should do their own homework by setting up folders for notes that come home with your kids,” said Larsen.
“Change the kids’ TV routines and establish guidelines.”
Praise your children daily. Let your children know that you believe in them, you think they are special and you have confidence in them. Be sure to communicate that you recognize and value their efforts, not just their final accomplishments, said Larsen.
Lastly, get acquainted with your children’s teachers and maintain open communication. Discuss goal setting with both your children and their teacher. This parent–teacher–child partnership will be very effective in the development of healthy homework habits, which will in turn help children to have a successful school year.
