Getting your kids ready to go back to school involves more than just shopping for clothes and lunchboxes and stationary.
Some kids might be itching to get back to class, while others may be dreading the end of summer vacation. Either way, there are steps you can take to help your children get ready for the start of a new school year. Read on to learn a few back to school basics.
1. Give Them Some Downtime
Some kids have a pretty full summers. They go to the beach, they go on family vacations, they spend a few weeks at camp, they build a treehouse with their friends.
All of this makes for a memorable summer, but it’s still a good idea to give your kids some time to unwind. A week or two of downtime right before the start of school can help them relax, and maybe even explore some new interests.
2. Set Up Routines
Use the weeks before school begins to re-establish school day routines. Have your kids get up and dressed and out the door to do something at the same time every morning. If you let your child stay in their pajamas until noon right up until summer ends, you’ll have a much harder time getting them ready when school begins.
When school starts, you may also want to consider setting up a designated homework time and place. By making it part of their daily routine – at the table after dinner, in their room after a snack, etc. – you’ll avoid homework becoming a daily battle.
3. Look Into The Future
Your kids might be nervous about going back to school. Even if it’s a familiar school, they’ll be in a new classroom with new teachers, and what we don’t know can be scary. Help ease these fears by visiting the school early – you may want to call first – to give them a glimpse of their new classroom and a chance to meet their new teacher.
And talk to them about the upcoming year. What do they want to learn about? What are they looking forward to about being a 2nd grader? A middle schooler? Encourage them to look on the bright side of returning to school.
4. Make An After School Plan
The start of school brings afterschool activities, and your kids will probably want to sign up for sport or club.
Avoid the temptation of letting them enroll in something that “everyone else” has signed up for and have a discussion about what they might like or not like, and what the family has time for given school and work schedules.
On days where there aren’t activities, figure out where your child will be spending time when school lets out, and you’re still at work. You might find afterschool programs run by a local YMCA or Boys & Girls Club, or through the school itself. Try to rework your schedule – if possible – to be there when your child gets home on the first few days of the school year. It will go a long way to helping them adjust.
5. Do Your Own Homework
Most schools hold orientations just before the academic year kicks off. Use this as an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, the school administration, counselors, and other support staff. When you talk to teachers, find out their approach to home work. Some use it to let students practice new skills. Others see it as a way to gauge how much children are learning. Ask for a schedule for tests and other big projects, so you can better plan your child’s schedule.
Heading back to school can be tough. If you’re looking for a way to help your child unwind in those first few stressful days – and in the days beyond – Swingset & Toy Warehouse can help.
Visit us online or at any of our locations to find swing sets, trampolines and basketball hoops. After a long day back in the classroom, your children will appreciate having something that lets them blow off steam in their backyard.
