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PITTSBURG —
The start of a new school year is an exciting time. It is a time for children to see friends they may not have been in contact with over the summer. For some there is the excitement of a new classroom or maybe even a new building.
But even though there may be excitement in the air, there is always the struggle of getting back in the groove of the school schedule. Getting to bed on time and getting up in the morning prepared and ready to get out the door takes a while to get back in the swing of things.
There are ways families can make the transition back to school run more smoothly. Some pre-planning is the key. A location by the door where school items can be kept is helpful during the early morning rush.
Plan the evening before to go through school papers and notes and have those backpacks ready for the next day. Encourage children to make their clothes selections the night before, not in the morning as they are rushing to get ready.
To keep up with busy school schedules, designate a family calendar and post it in a place where entries can be made easily and schedules checked regularly. Enter school schedules such as vacation dates and school activities as soon as they become available to avoid over booking.
As the new school year begins, there may be the opportunity for your child to become involved in numerous after-school or extracurricular activities.
It is not possible for each child to be involved in all the opportunities available. This is a great opportunity to help your child learn to make choices.
Discuss with them about their interests. Consider the child’s age and also the commitment of time and money involved. Does the activity work with the family’s budget and transportation needs?
Making choices is key to avoiding over commitment to a seemly endless line of activities available. Be sure to balance school and community activities in order to leave room for family time together.
In getting back to a busy school schedule, be sure to declare at least one night as family night.
Make it a pizza, movie or game night. Prepare and cook the evening meal together, then work on a project together, go for a walk or take a bike ride.
Family time provides you the opportunity to talk with your child about their school day, their experiences and their activities.
The start of a new school year is an exciting time. It is a time for children to see friends they may not have been in contact with over the summer. For some there is the excitement of a new classroom or maybe even a new building.
But even though there may be excitement in the air, there is always the struggle of getting back in the groove of the school schedule. Getting to bed on time and getting up in the morning prepared and ready to get out the door takes a while to get back in the swing of things.
There are ways families can make the transition back to school run more smoothly. Some pre-planning is the key. A location by the door where school items can be kept is helpful during the early morning rush.
Plan the evening before to go through school papers and notes and have those backpacks ready for the next day. Encourage children to make their clothes selections the night before, not in the morning as they are rushing to get ready.
To keep up with busy school schedules, designate a family calendar and post it in a place where entries can be made easily and schedules checked regularly. Enter school schedules such as vacation dates and school activities as soon as they become available to avoid over booking.
As the new school year begins, there may be the opportunity for your child to become involved in numerous after-school or extracurricular activities.
It is not possible for each child to be involved in all the opportunities available. This is a great opportunity to help your child learn to make choices.
Discuss with them about their interests. Consider the child’s age and also the commitment of time and money involved. Does the activity work with the family’s budget and transportation needs?
Making choices is key to avoiding over commitment to a seemly endless line of activities available. Be sure to balance school and community activities in order to leave room for family time together.
In getting back to a busy school schedule, be sure to declare at least one night as family night.
Make it a pizza, movie or game night. Prepare and cook the evening meal together, then work on a project together, go for a walk or take a bike ride.
Family time provides you the opportunity to talk with your child about their school day, their experiences and their activities.
