With the first day of school rapidly approaching, your kids may already be experiencing some end of the summer jitters. Proper preparation can influence the attitude kids have toward the new school year.
It's a fact that some kids can't wait for the new school year to start. They love choosing their supplies, getting to know a new teacher and seeing all their school friends. This isn't the case for every child. As a new school year approaches, some kids experience anxiety and stress. Fortunately there are strategies every family can use to have a successful year.
Communicate: Whether your child is starting school for the first time, going to a new school, or had a difficult time last year, healthy communication is important in managing the transition. Change can be unsettling in your child's life. One of the best ways to help him or her manage change is to make a positive impact through communication.
Get Planning: Right around this time of year everyone should sit down as a family to discuss the timing for practices and events. You obviously can't be in two places at one time, so allow yourself plenty of time to arrange an alternate plan. This will also set your child at ease.
Time Management: Keep a master calendar in a central location that has everyone's activities available at a glance. If you have multiple children, you may want to color code the kids to make the calendar easier to organize.
Get Real: You may have to limit the amount of activities each child can participate in because of timing. While it may create some disappointment in the beginning, it can cut down on stress for all of you in the long term. Remember that having a great time at one or two activities a week is much better than doing a dozen activities and being miserable trying to manage them all.