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4 Ways to Prepare Your Child for the New School Year
Summer vacation from school is usually a kid’s favorite time of year. No books, no lessons, and no lackluster school lunches. Summer vacation is fun for kids, but going back to school in the fall can be challenging.
I’m school assembly presenter Cosmo. I present fun-filled and interactive assemblies for elementary schools in California’s Bay Area, West Coast, and Central Valley. I intend to share techniques and strategies to help make busy parents and school administrators easier. Let’s get to this month’s article!
Kids love summer vacation. Often comes a certain, shall we say, sliding of certain habits. Yes, it’s great to let your children enjoy the time off from the hectic pace and demands of school. But getting back into the swing of things for the fall can be a lot easier by following a few simple strategies.
New School Year Prep Tip #1: Start Going to Bed Earlier
What kid doesn’t enjoy staying up past their bedtime? There is just something about staying up late that feels so rebellious and fun for children. And while it’s fun and acceptable to overindulge in this habit a bit, you’ll want to pull back on this as the new school year gets closer.
A few weeks before the end of summer vacation, start dialing back your child’s bedtime. When the new school year starts, it’s a stressful time. Struggling to stay awake as your child acclimates to their new classes and school life makes the whole ordeal even harder.
New School Year Prep Tip #2: Avoid the Summer Slide
Many kids go two to three months without reading during the summer break. This reading hiatus puts them at a severe disadvantage when the new school year arrives. Believe it or not, this simple break from reading can leave kids two to three years behind their fellow students when classes resume.
Want to avoid the summer slide? Keep your kids reading during the summer. Take them to your local library. Libraries across the United States make a big reading push for kids during the summer. It may go by many names, but the most common term is Summer Reading Program.
Each year, libraries create special incentive-based reading challenges, contests, games, and prizes. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep your child reading over the summer. Best of all, it’s free! Visit your local library for details.
New School Year Prep Tip #3: Start Each Day with a Healthy Breakfast
Are you familiar with the saying, ‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day?’ Getting fueled up for the day is important, especially for kids. But the problem is so many so-called breakfast ‘foods’ are nothing but junk food in breakfast disguise. Waffles, pancakes, pop tarts, and other popular easy-to-prepare choices don’t give your child the long-lasting nutrition they need to get through the morning and make it to lunch.
Compounding matters further are the school’s lunch schedule. Schools with very high populations, 900 students or more, often have lunch schedules that make it difficult to get proper nutrition for the day. Some children may have lunch as early as 10:30 am and then be expected to make it to the end of the school day. Conversely, some older students may not have lunch until 1:30 pm.
All of this means starting the day with a balanced, nutritious breakfast is even more important for your child. Consider giving your child food that ‘stays’ with them longer than the carb-loaded pastries and other popular breakfast choices.
New School Year Prep Tip #4: Prepare Clothes and School Supplies
Many kids suffer anxiety as the new school year approaches. They worry about fitting in, finding their classes, adapting to a different experience than last year, and much more. Because the start of a new school year can be so stressful, prepare for that first week well in advance.
Help your child pick the clothes they will wear the first few days. If your child has experienced a growth spurt, this may involve getting new clothes. Don’t wait until the last minute. Give your child plenty of time to acclimate to what they will wear.
The same goes for backpacks and other school supplies. While your child may not know the specifics of certain classes, general items can be purchased well in advance. Having all of these things before the school year starts can help reduce your child’s anxiety.
Get the New School Year Started Right
Want a fun way for your entire school to start the new school year? My “The Greatest Kid Show on Earth” gives your students important life lessons and messages. And I deliver these messages using magic, join-in fun, and more! Get all the details here.