Get Ready, Set, School!

Indoor shoes, check! Backpack, check! School supplies, check!  We usually remember all the big stuff when it comes to going back to school.  What about the mental preparation? If this is your child’s first or fifth time going back to school, here are some tips to ease the transition.

Visit Your School

If your child is going to junior kindergarten visit your school throughout the summer. Make the child aware that school is a part of their daily life.

Back to School Countdown: Advent Calendar

Last year we made back to school advent calendars.

You will need:

7 toilet paper rolls (1 for each day)

Stickers

Markers

Wrapping paper

Scissors

Piece of cardboard

Tape

Glue stick

Small school supplies

Decorate the toilet paper rolls.  Stick toilet paper rolls to cardboard (side by side).  Number each roll backwards.  Now place objects inside the rolls. We opened the rolls at night as part of our bedtime routine.

Happy (School) New Year!

September is the equivalent of New Year’s Day for a child.  So why not throw a New (School) Year’s party?  The weekend before school have a small get together with friends to celebrate a fresh start.  Pull out all your new years decorations and make it fun for the kids.  Present the children with a special back to school gift, (a new backpack, shoes etc…).

Routines for Success

Children need time to adjust to any changes in their routines.  They should be going to bed earlier to prepare them for the early rise in September. It is also a good idea to keep the morning routine as close to the school routine as possible.  As a teacher, I found that most children who had trouble adjusting to school did not have established routines.  Encourage children to put shoes, jackets, hats, and bags in their place.  Set up a spot for everyone to put these things away on a daily basis.

Help For Parents:

The start of school means the beginning of a truckload of paper coming into your home on a regular basis.  Last year I tried a system that worked for me.  I bought a desktop file for the kitchen.  I had a folder for each child with their name on it.  This helped keep papers handy and also out of view.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and have fun preparing for school.

Photos property of the author and used with permission.