As a former teacher and experienced parent I’ve found that there is a whole lot more to creating a successful school year than all the right back to school supplies and clothes. Make your child’s school year “rule” with these simple steps.
1. Starlight star bright, first star I see tonight. Get the kids to bed on time every school night and avoid late nights on the weekends. It’s easy to say that staying up late won’t hurt them, but for every hour of sleep children lose, they need two hours to make it up.
2. Start the day the night before. Don’t leave homework, packing lunches or picking out clothing until the last minute. Start your school day the night before, so that your child can concentrate on what needs to get done in the morning and get off to a good start, stress-free.
3. Be organized. It doesn’t matter if it is the first week of school or the middle of the school year. Take time to figure out what type of organization works, from setting up a place for homework to be done quietly to where you will store important school papers and even your child’s backpack.
4. Attend school nights. At my daughter’s school each term, they offer a parent’s night where the children can be tended to in the library and you can find out school tips and hints about how to help your child to be successful at school and home.
5. Be involved. Whether you can show up at school once a week or once a quarter, your involvement equals school success. Remember being involved can range from a lunch in the lunchroom with your child to helping to plan this year’s school carnival. There are different levels of involvement and each one of them are equally important to creating a successful school year.
6. Don’t let the school “rule.” If you don’t understand a rule then ask questions. Sometimes your child may act differently at school than they do at home, but sometimes they are just too scared to ask questions to find out what they did wrong.
7. Talk it out. Talk to your children about their school day. Don’t let “fine” be the answer of the day. Take advantage of opportunities to not only talk to your child about school, but also to other parents, and never miss a parent-teacher conference. If you need to schedule one on the phone, just ask; teachers understand about working-parent schedules and are happy to talk to you.
It doesn’t matter if it is the beginning, middle or end of the school year. It’s never too late to take those few simple and small steps towards making your child’s school year a successful one.
What’s one of your go to tips for making a successful school year? We would love to hear them in our comments!
Jelli says
My daughter is in her second year of school, and I use many of these tips. Making overnight oats for the whole family the night before makes us soar through breakfast. It’s lovely! Before we’d barely make it out the door by 7am (when she was supposed to be IN class) and now we get out with plenty of time to spare to walk her to school. Thanks for the tips~!
Lisa Carey says
I made apple cinnamon oats the night before and it was a big hit. Another one is breakfast burritos as they can warm them up quickly either on the George Foreman grill, toaster oven or microwave. You are so right that breakfast can be a big deal and no one wants to eat the same thing over and over again so it’s a challenge to have something quick and delicious so we can actually get out the door on time.
lisa says
These are some GREAT tips! I will be sharing this with my oldest son, he just mentioned the other day how hard it will be getting the kids back on schedule for bed. I so agree about preparing clothes and lunch early. I use to make sure everything was laid out and packed to go the night before. I even ironed kids clothing for the whole week.
Lisa Carey says
IRONED!? You are outstanding. I don’t think I even have an ironing board. I hang lots of things up to dry to avoid having to iron them 🙂 In our house I admit getting everyone back to bed is truly the hardest of them all to accomplish.
Gemille Sleweon says
Although I’m approaching my senior year of college in a few weeks, these back to school tips are still relevant. I’ve decided to make my last year my best year!
Lisa Carey says
How exciting! The end is in sight and congratulations on knowing to make this year in front of you the best year ever!
Ali Rost says
I remember the years when my kids were in grade school and having a routine (and sticking to it was key. Every time I packed lunches at 10 pm I thought “your future self will thank-you” Every time I enforced a bedtime I knew the next day would be better because of it. ps: I had no idea for that for every hour of sleep children lose, they need two hours to make it up. Hopefully it doesn’t apply to adults as well! x
Lisa Carey says
I remind myself of the same thing at night as I’m folding clothes or getting things put together, that it will all be worth it at 530 am when I need to get her out the door for volleyball practice (here she practices BEFORE school instead of after) making for some rough mornings.