Prepare your child and yourself 
for those first school bells

By Peggy J. LeVrier

Summertime is almost over and it is time to prepare you and your children to head back to school. It will be an easier transition for both of you if you begin physically and emotionally preparing now for the new school year.

* Children need to be rested and refreshed to get the most from their school experience. 
   Please consider the following suggestions in achieving that goal.

* Start getting up and going to bed earlier -- Have the children go to bed a few minutes earlier 
   until they are going to bed on a school-time schedule. Children will be excited about the first 
   day of school. If they go to bed late, they will have a difficult time getting up early, causing 
   them to rush to meet the first bell.

* Eat breakfast -- A nutritious breakfast is essential for children's learning. Research shows 
   that children who eat breakfast do better academically than those who do not eat breakfast. 
   Take time to sit and visit with your child at the breakfast table.

* Exercise -- If you have not been exercising with your child, begin now. Children need 
   exercise as badly as they need food. Studies have shown that some parents have allowed 
   their children to lead sedate lives for too long now and it is having an adverse affect on their 
   health.

* Less television and more reading -- If your children have not been involved in a reading 
   program, encourage reading now. Read to them, listen to them read, and ask questions 
   about the material that they have read. Children whose parents read to them become good 
   readers. Parents who do not read to their children often show little or no interest in reading.

* Set a schedule - The relaxing days of summer have created much flexibility in your children's 
   schedule. Start now to "tighten up" on the schedule so they will be "in shape" for school. 
   Consider enrolling your child in only one extra-curricular activity during school. Children also 
   need time to play and "just do nothing."

Children need to be prepared emotionally for school to lessen the "first day jitters." Consider the following suggestions.

* Let your child shop and pick out school clothes -- Be sure you let him/her choose something 
   that you have pre-approved. Also, check with the school district prior to shopping if you are 
   unsure of the dress code. Have your child choose clothes the night before to be ready to 
   wear in the morning.

* Children need to dress themselves for school -- Practice tying, zipping and buckling clothing 
   if your children have not mastered that skill.

* Encourage your children to know his address, telephone number and last name -- The more 
   your children know about themselves when they go to school, the more independent and 
   self-confident they will feel. Independence and self-confidence are "key ingredients" for 
   children to learn.

* Meet the teacher and tour the school -- Meet the child's teacher, if that is possible. If that's 
   not possible, take the children on a tour of the school he or she will be attending.

* First-time scholars can take a picture of family to school -- If your child is going to school for 
   the first time you might let him take a small picture of his family with him. This will remind him 
   of his family during the day.

* Have all of your child's supplies -- The school experience will be more successful and 
   children will feel better if they have all of their supplies.

* Don't linger -- Drop your child at his room, give him a hug and tell him goodbye. Ninety-five 
   percent of children do not experience separation anxiety.

* Wait until the teacher suggests that you come for lunch -- Children need to learn the lunch guidelines and socialize with their new friends.

* Ask open-ended questions about your child's day -- At the first parent/teacher conference, 
   ask the teacher what questions you should be asking your child.

* Take a picture with your child and his/her teacher -- Let your child choose work that she 
   wants to keep for a scrapbook and include pictures of her school year. This will be a 
   wonderful way to remember his/her school experiences.

Be positive and upbeat about your child's new school year. He or she is looking to you for encouragement about their new venture. If you have concerns, approach the teacher in a positive manner without discussing your concerns with your child or anyone else. Your child will like his teacher as well as you like her! I hope that you and your child has a wonderful new school year!

Peggy LeVrier has served as an early childhood educator for 35 years and is the owner and facilitator of Peggy's Positive Parenting in La Porte. For more parenting information, you can contact her at (281) 748-9176 or pjlevrier@houston.rr.com 


Back to Parent University main page