Get your child ready for back-to-school and prevent those first day blues.
Regardless if your child attends public, private, charter, or is schooled at home, the first day back to school can be stressful. With planning on your part, you can head-off many of the back-to-school jitters your child may experience.
1. Head to bed. Start back with your child’s in-school bed routine 14 days prior to the start of school. Not only will this allow your child to adjust back to the routine, your child will also have the opportunity to catch up on sleep that may have been missed over busy summer months. A well-rested child on the first day of school will definitely be more agreeable and adjusted.
2. Meet up with friends and meet new classmates. Get in touch with your child’s friends from school and schedule a play date the week before school resumes. If your child is new to the school, ask the school administration for a listing of your child’s classmates and try to connect with the parents of children in your child’s class. Many schools schedule a “meet and greet” prior to the start of school. If so, this is a great time to meet new classmates.
3. Get them involved. Ask your child to help you in preparing for heading back-to-school. Once you are prepared with your back-to-school budget and supplies list from your child’s teacher, select a few options and allow your child to choose the final. For instance, need a new lunch box? Then, you choose a few options you approve of in your price range and present to your child for him to make the final selection. This keeps items within your budget while involving your child in selecting his own personal pieces.
4. Celebrate. Plan a family celebration for back-to-school night. This can either be the night before school starts or the actual night that school begins. Allow your child to plan the menu with you and be sure to play up the big day. Some ideas include: balloons (not for little ones), cupcakes for dessert, a sign to announce the big day, and a special gift of a neat notebook or pencil set that your child can use at school.
Your child will be ready to head back-to-school and excited about the upcoming year with this tips. Remember, the change is exciting and stressful for your child. Be conscious of this and take time to talk with your child about how he is feeling about the situation. Just listening to him may be the best tip of all.
What are your back-to-school blues prevention tips? Please share them with your Chic Galleria friends.
Photo credit © Kelpfish | Dreamstime.com
