BACK-TO-SCHOOL

Back-to-school countdown

August 7, 2009

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Louise Brown

EDUCATION REPORTER

How do you help your kids to clear mental cobwebs, and get the whole family back into a school-year routine? The Star talked to several experts for tips on how to make a smooth transition back to school. Here’s what they had to say:

Four weeks before:

• Start talking with your children about what they’re looking forward to next year, and maybe what they’re nervous about. If they’re worried about a certain subject, there’s still time to do some activities to boost their confidence – and their skills.

• Get back to the library if you’ve gotten out of the habit, and start a reading program again. If you have a beginning or reluctant reader, you could try an incentive chart to make brushing up fun.

• Buy a simple scrapbook and have your children start a summer journal, complete with drawings, written descriptions of their favourite memories and mementos like ticket stubs, pressed flowers and newspaper clippings.

• Help them keep in touch with friends from school to maintain some of those social connections, especially if your family is away. If they’re too young for Facebook, try an old-fashioned postcard.

Three weeks before:

• Make a bowl of popcorn or serve some ice cream cones and call a family meeting about the extracurricular activities your child is considering. Many experts recommend a limit of two non-school activities to avoid the hurried-child syndrome that can produce such stress (on the kids and the parents), while others believe keeping kids busy means keeping them safe. Talk about what works for the whole family and make some tough choices. You’ll be happy you did.

• Play board games to help brush up math skills in a fun way. Snakes and ladders is good for very young children; a simplified version of cribbage can be fun for the older set.

• If you work outside the home and your office is quiet these days, bring your children to work to remind them where you are when they are off at school.

• Shop for new school clothes and school supplies before the crowds get nutty. Don’t go overboard: Chances are kids may like to make some of their fashion decisions when the fall weather arrives. Ditto school supplies: If you haven’t already seen a list from the teacher, hold off on the scientific calculators and other pricey maybes.

• Head to the library and get out a novel you can read to together each night. Pick something that’s just a bit beyond her own reading comprehension – but not her understanding. Read by example: Talk together about what’s on your bedside table.

Two weeks before:

• Hold family meeting number two. Over more popcorn or ice cream, talk about bedtimes, curfews, Facebook and TV rules for fall schoolnights. Keep the discussion calm. Summer screentime may have gotten a little out-of-hand, but your kids will adjust.

• If a child is nervous about going to school for the first time – or if you have moved over the summer – spend a few evenings in the school playground. You may just make some neighbourhood friends, and line up a buddy for the walk to school.

• Have a conversation about homework rules this year; will homework come first, or after supper, or TV? Many school boards are ramping down the amount of homework they assign to reduce stress and allow more time for extra-curriculars – check out your child’s school board policy before you set up your own.

One week before:

• Start working toward the new bedtime.

• Start planning some lunch menus together. Would your child like to help make the lunches? Now’s a good time to try – bring him shopping with you for suggestions.

• Buy some Bristol board and have the kids work on a chart – either for chores, or to spell out the new weekly or daily schedule for after school. Buy a big calendar with lots of room for writing, or make one with the kids for each month.

• Take an inventory of basic school supply and school clothes to be sure your child has essentials.

Night before:

• Celebrate the end of summer with a dinner of your child’s choosing.

• Pledge to yourself that this year, when you get home from work – or when your children get home from school – you will spend at least 12 uninterrupted minutes sitting and chatting about the day. Not 10: you’ll be tempted to guess when it’s over and we all guess too short. The 12-minute rule has been a longstanding tip from parenting experts. Of course more than 12 minutes is even better.

• Let the kids do as much for themselves as they can – pack their knapsacks, choose their clothes, even make their lunches or snacks. Then settle in for storytime and an early bedtime.

Now keep calm, and good luck – all of you.

For a downloadable checklist, follow this link.

 

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