Smart Start:
8 Tips to Kick Off the School Year Right
By Christa Melnyk Hines
School bells will soon ring once again. Whether that comes as music to your ears or a bittersweet reminder that the free-spirited summer days are over, check out these tips from the pros to help you and your child enjoy a smart, happy start to school.
1. Push the re-set button. A week or two before school starts ease back to regular bedtime and morning routines. Nudge kids back into the habit of daily reading if they’ve slacked off and play math games to review.
“Think about re-setting structure at home and what changes need to happen so it’s not a total shock to everyone’s system,” says Christine Vohs, a 2nd grade teacher. “Anything that you can create that allows for structure and your child’s ownership for success is going to send them to me in a better frame of mind to learn for the day.”
Back-to-School Quiz
What school item is listed among the top 20 most recognizable scents?
The crayon, which ranked 18 in a Yale University study.
True or False: Fear of going to school is a psychological condition.
True. Roughly 2 percent of children around the world have a phobia called “Didaskaleinophobia,” in which they feel physically ill, depressed and scared about attending school.
How many words can the average pencil write?
45,000
2. Build anticipation. Got a youngster who’s bummed to head back to school? Stay upbeat. Remind him of the subjects that spark his curiosity that he’ll learn about in the coming year, whether that’s cursive writing, multiplication or a special grade-level project.
“Talk to your children about friends they haven’t seen all summer and about new kids joining their class,” says 1st grade teacher Megan Jasperson. “This is sure to get them excited for the school year to begin.”
3. Show support. “Avoid teasing your child by saying things like ‘you got the meanest teacher in school!’ or acting as if you’re overjoyed to be sending your child back to school because this can make him wonder why you’re so eager to be away from him,” says Becky DeNoon, a 3rd grade teacher.
Instead offer encouragement and support. Remind him that it’s normal to feel disappointed about summer break coming to a close, but that you’re excited to see how much he’ll learn and grow during the coming months.
4. Be prepared. Peruse school supply lists carefully and read the handouts the school issues to ensure that your child has everything he needs on the first day of school.
“Kids feel embarrassed on the first day when they aren’t prepared,” Jasperson says.
5. Reduce uncertainty. Often kids feel nervous about unknowns like transitioning to a teacher they don’t know, a new school or a different set of classroom rules. Take advantage of any back-to-school or orientation events that your school offers to help your apprehensive scholar familiarize herself with the classroom, meet classmates and connect with the teacher before school starts. Knowing what to expect and where to go on the first day will ease some of a child’s anxieties.
6. Seek out friendly faces. If you’ve recently moved to the community or switched schools, look for other families with children your child’s age to arrange a playdate or to meet for frozen yogurt.
Some schools also feature parent Facebook pages. Hop on and ask if anyone would like to get together at the park before school begins. Many parents love to help welcome new families. And these efforts will lessen first day jitters when your child knows she’ll recognize a few familiar faces when she gets there.
Have an adolescent heading into middle school? Encourage him to join after-school clubs and activities. His involvement will help him form connections with peers who share his interests, says Traci Keeler, a 6th grade math teacher and 8th grade volleyball coach.
7. Build partnerships. Maintaining open communication and partnering with your student’s teacher is key to a successful school year.
“You know your child best and your insights into your child are helpful to us,” Vohs says.
Introduce yourself to the teacher and tell her the best ways she can contact you. In turn, remember that teachers care about their students’ best interests. Vohs speaks for many of her colleagues when she says: “I hope parents will trust me to make the best possible decisions for their child while he or she is with me.”
8. Get involved. Help your children start seeing school as an extension of their home life by volunteering periodically. Most kids get a kick out of seeing their parents during the school day, whether they volunteer in the cafeteria, library or the classroom. Unable to volunteer at school? Ask the teacher what you can do to help from home.
