Many of the kids were starting school last week in the Midwest. However, here we don’t start until the end of the month or the first week in September. So there is still time to make sure your emergency contacts that you listed on your school forms match your Temporary Guardians! Did you know that the school CANNOT release custody to your emergency contacts!!
So you need to give me a call so we can name those temporary guardians. This week the ezine is taking a break from the legal stuff and I am focusing on all those with children who start school this year.
While you may be breathing a sigh of relief that your routine is going back to normal and you can stop hassling with keeping your kids busy and out of trouble, your kids are probably feeling a little uneasy about heading back to class.
They’re facing new classes, new kids, new teachers and possibly even a new school. Here are a few tips to make the start of a new school year a little less painful for everyone so read on.
Remember I would love to hear from you on my blog… And if you have a specific topic that you would like for me to discuss, feel free to post it.
Be safe and enjoy the final days of summer vacation.
The First Day Back
• Remind your kids that they’re not the only ones nervous about the first day of school, meeting new people and starting out with a new teacher. Everyone there is in the same boat.
• Help them remember they’ll see friends they haven’t seen all summer and how much fun they’ve had on previous first days of school.
• Let them walk to school or meet at the bus stop with one of their neighborhood friends. It will give them someone to talk to and keep their mind off the fact that they’re a little uneasy.
• If your child is really nervous and you think it will help, drive them to school and pick them up on the first day to allay some of the first day jitters.
Choose the Right Backpack
• Make sure you choose a backpack with wide,
padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
• Don’t overload your child’s backpack. Use all the compartments if you need them to be organized but pack heavier items closer to the middle of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 20 percent of your child’s body weight.
• Your child should always use both shoulder straps. How many times do you see a child walking with the pack slung over one shoulder? That’s a good way to seriously strain shoulder muscles.
• If your child has an unusual number of books and supplies and can’t really manage the weight of backpack, think about getting a rolling backpack. The only drawbacks to one of these rolling packs are that they can be a problem if your child has to go up and down stairs at school and they don’t always roll well in snow ( not that we have any snow!!!)
Establish Rules for Getting To and From School The Bus
• If your child rides the bus to school, make sure they use a seat belt and don’t move around while on the bus.
• Make sure they always remain in clear view of the bus driver and check to see that no other traffic is coming before they cross the street.
Carpooling
• If your child goes to school by car, make sure they wear a seat belt and that the car has a size appropriate car safety seat or booster seat (if your child is under 4’9” tall).
• Your child should always ride in the rear seat of the car until they are at least 13 years old.
Teen Drivers
• If you have teenagers, remember that many car accidents occur while teen drivers are going to and from school. Remind your teenager to always use their seat belt, limit the number of teen passengers in the car with them, do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone use or texting while they are driving.
Riding Their Bike
• If your child rides a bike to school, always require that they wear a helmet.
• Remind them to always ride on the right, in the same direction as automobile traffic.
• Teach them to honor all traffic lights and stop signs and use appropriate hand signals.
Walking
• If your child walks to school, make sure that their route is safe with trained adult crossing guards at each intersection.
• Use good judgment about your child’s age and maturity level when deciding if they should be allowed to walk to school. Young kids areimpulsive and will dart out into traffic without thinking.
• If you have young kids or they are going to a new school, walk with them for the first week or so to make sure they know how to get there and that the route is indeed safe.
• Make sure they wear a bright colored jacket to make them more visible to drivers.
Getting Back to the Routine of Homework
• Create a place in your home conducive to doing homework and studying. Kids need a permanent spot somewhere in the house that is quiet and gives them some privacy.
• Make sure you schedule enough time in the day for them to actually do their homework. This is a good lesson in time management and you can never start those habits too early.
• Turn the TV off during study time.
• Always supervise Internet use.
• Make sure you’re available to answer questions but don’t do their homework for them. They’ll never learn that way.
• If your child is really struggling with a particular subject, talk to their teacher. You may need to find a tutor to give them extra help.
• Be reasonable in scheduling study time. Sitting for hours on end is bad for the eyes, neck and back and leads to brain fatigue. Remind them to take breaks and stretch.
By incorporating these tips into your back to school routine, it will make the transition from summer fun to hitting the books a little easier for everyone. If you’re consistent with the routine and everyone knows what to expect, there will be less confusion and chaos. And that’s never a bad thing.
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