Help! School has started!
Help! School has started!
By Angela Kennedy
Are you having trouble getting out the door on time in the mornings? Does your child come home from school exhausted and cranky? Do you feel like your evenings are rushed? The new school year is here and it's a far cry from the lazy days of summer vacation. As a parent, I am always amazed at the increase in the number of activities and responsibilities that my son and I have when school is back in session.
While I am certainly no expert, I've managed to put into place a few "rules of the house" that seem to help my son and me "get it together," or at least remain sane and friendly to each other. Granted, there are times when I still walk into work 10 minutes late because Ryan remembered during the ride on the way to school that I was supposed to fill out the parent permission form for his science fair project. And there are times when he is up late for a Boy Scout event and a bit of a grouch the next day. But I have found that if I follow a few simple rules most of the time, most of the time things will go relatively smoothly.
None of these ideas are new, but perhaps one or two will help with the transition into this new school year.
* Designate a place in your home for your child to do homework. Have your child complete his or her homework after arriving home from school. Make sure that the area where your child works is stocked with the basics - paper, pens, pencils, a ruler, map pencils, etc.
* Make lunches the night before. Have your child make his own lunch, with some direction from you as to what constitutes a healthy combination, as a part of his allowance or family chores. You can avoid the last minute grabbing of Doritos and a Zebra cake in your haste to get out the front door in the morning.
* Set clothing out the night before for your child. Or, if your child is old enough and/or has definite preferences, have him set out his own clothing. The morning wail of "Where is my red shirt?" can be minimized.
* Set a strict, reasonable bedtime. Your child will not only perform better academically because he has gotten a good night's sleep, but once the routine is established, you will cherish the time that you gain for yourself.
* Insist on breakfast. Studies have shown that children are more successful at school if they have eaten something for breakfast. It can be as simple as yogurt and fruit or a piece of toast.
* Limit extracurricular activities. Parents sometimes feel pressured for their children to succeed in several areas outside of school (music, sports, etc.) Try to limit your child to choosing only one or two favorite activities that do not overload your schedule.
* Limit television watching (you knew this one was coming!). Studies show that the average child watches four hours of television a day, even on school days! That time could be better spent preparing for the next day or enjoying a bike ride or hobby together.
* Carve out some "down time" for you and your child to just relax. One way to do this would be to establish a family night and play board games or cards.
Most importantly, pay attention to what your child says and always have a listening ear. Ask for your child's opinion concerning his or her activities and your daily routine. The more that you involve your child in the decision making, the easier it will be to work together to make your mornings and evenings go smoothly.
Angela Kennedy is an instructional specialist for pre-kindergarten/kindergarten in the Pasadena Independent School District's Curriculum and Instruction Department.