The back-to-school commercials have already started running, a harbinger that the waning weeks of summer are upon us.
Remember that brilliant Staples spot that riffed on the classic Christmas tune “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” except while the parents skipped through the aisles, the kids looked miserable? Not so "wonderful." According to positive living expert Diane Lang, that joyful approach to returning to school doesn’t have to be ironic. With the right preparation, parents can help make the transition to the school-year smoother for their kids, whether they are in pre-school, grade school, or high school. The key, she stressed, is to start now.
Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing the tips Lang shared with us. This week, we’ll start with five things to do in the month of August.
Get Children Back into their Routines Slowly.
If your kids are anything like mine is, summer means staying up and waking up later than usual. Getting kids back to an early morning routine will take time, so Lang suggests beginning the process in August.
“Each week have your kids go to bed a little earlier until they get back to their normal school routine,” Lang said. “Each week my daughter goes to bed 30 minutes earlier. By the last week of Aug., she will be back to her school schedule.”
Take Children Back-to-School Shopping.
The more involved kids are in the preparation, the more invested and excited they become. Allowing kids to pick out their school supplies, backpacks and lunch bags, and school clothing ideally makes the process more fun for kids. It also, Lang noted, makes parents’ lives easier—we won’t have to return things they don’t like!
Visit Your Children’s Schools.
Most schools have visiting days before the school years begins. Lang encourages parents to take their children on a tour of their schools and classrooms. This is especially important if children are starting at a new school. Walk around so your children know the school layout—where their lockers, bathrooms, guidance counselor’s office, and classrooms are located. Teachers are typically in attendance on these days, so parents and children can meet their new teachers. This helps kids feel more comfortable in their new environment, but parents benefit as well.
Kids are more aware than we think, Lang cautions. They watch and hear everything we say. So, if we talk negatively about school or teachers, we influence how our children feel too. Be positive!
Have Necessary Paperwork Ready to Go.
Know what documentation is needed for the first day of school now so you can have everything ready on the first day, including health forms (pediatricians are often swamped this time of year) and any necessary food or medication instructions if you have a child have allergies. Also, if your child has any special needs (physically or cognitively), talk to the school and teachers before the new year begins. Being a partner with your children’s schools goes a long way to ensuring they have positive learning experiences.
Diane Lang is an author, educator, speaker, and therapist whose mission is to help people develop a sustainable positive attitude that can provide a strong foundation for finding happiness. She is the author of "Baby Steps: The Path from Motherhood to Career" and "Creating Balance and Finding Happiness." For more information about Diane Lang, visit her website at http://www.dlcounseling.com or email her at Lifeline36@aol.com
More From Diane Lang:
5 Keys to Being a Happy Parent, and Why Your Kids Will Thank You for it Later
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