Tips To Make Back To School Easier For Your Child

If you want to know how your children feel about going back to school after the long summer vacation, think about how you felt heading to a new job for the first time or even returning to work after vacation.

Remember how much your routine had to change to get yourself to your job on time and prepared for work? That's the same challenge facing schoolchildren in August and September as schools restart classes for the new school year.

Even if your child is returning to the same school they've previously attended, chances are there are many changes they'll have to adjust to; like new teachers or classes, new routines at their school or maybe a new bus route.

Just as you wouldn't want to wait until late the night before a new job to get ready, you shouldn't put your children into that situation at school. To get as much learning into a school year as possible, many schools are prepared to start teaching important lessons on the first day of classes.

With that in mind, teachers and other educational experts say that forethought and preparation can make all the difference in whether your child gets off to a good start on the first day of school or whether they have to struggle to get into the school routine.

Ideally, parents and children need to start thinking about what they both need to do to get ready to go back to school at least a couple of weeks before classes start.

Deputy Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Laura Mitchell says that can start with getting children to bed earlier, closer to the times they used to go to bed on school days.

Doctors say growing youngsters need between 8 and 10 hours a night of sleep to fully rest. That could mean having elementary and middle school youngsters heading off to bed as early as 7:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

You can ease your children into the new school routine for sleep by starting their bedtime routines, like washing up, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, a half hour earlier each night until you get to the right school bedtimes.

Sylvan Learning Center Cincinnati Executive Director Randy Rodhe says you and your child then need to agree on where and when they'll do their homework. Rodhe says it's best to set aside a specific time when your children will be expected to do homework.

For some families, homework time starts right after school. Mitchell says that's the best time because lessons are still fresh in the child's mind. However, Rodhe thinks that for some families and children, homework between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. is best.

Rodhe says you have to look at what kind of student your child is when you consider homework time and locations. He says some children need structure and routine to get their homework done.

That could mean the kitchen table or a study desk, where you can keep an eye on them and ask them about their homework.

Other children are better at reading and studying in private, with little prompting from parents other than occasional checks. It's a great topic to talk with children about and involve them in planning how, when and where they want to do their homework.

Wherever children and parents chose for homework, it's recommended that the television, radio or music players be turned off to reduce distractions. For most children, the quieter the location, the better.

Both Rodhe and Mitchell say parents should either call their schools or check their school's websites to see when fall Open Houses or Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled. Do whatever is necessary to make sure you can attend along with your child.

Those websites are also increasingly providing more than calendar information for both parents and students. The Cincinnati Public Schools are increasing the amount and quality of information they are posting on their Dashboard web section, including grades, student progress, assignments and the like. The site is one of many nationwide which help give families an easily accessible way to keep up with what their children are doing in school and how well they are doing.

Mitchell has an interesting teacher-oriented reminder to parents: watch what you give your children for breakfast. She recommends looking for low-sugar foods and cereals to maintain your childrens’ energy level throughout the day, rather than having them overly energetic early in the day and then seeing their energy levels crash later in the morning or in the early afternoon.

Back to School Checklist

• Get children into early sleep routine before school starts.
   
• Call school or check school's website for suggestions on what supplies or clothing you'll need to buy.
   
• Involve children in getting prepared for school.
   
• Set up a homework location and study schedule.
   
• Find out when the school will hold an open house or parent-teacher conferences and take steps to make sure you can attend with your child.
   
• Check with local library to see what homework study resources are available for your child.
   
• Make sure the breakfast you give your children is a healthy one that is low in sugar. The same goes for the snacks or lunch you pack.