It’s that time of year again: the kids are going back to school. Make certain the school year starts the right way by keeping the following tips in mind:
Establish A Bedtime And Wake-Up Routine
Have the kiddies been sleeping till noon all summer? Now is the perfect time to establish a new routine. Start putting them to bed and waking them up around the times they will be doing so during the school year about two weeks in advance. This puts them on the right sleeping schedule and creates fewer problems when it is time to go back.
Meet The Teachers
Meet your children’s new teachers via open houses, orientations, and any other meet-and-greet opportunities before the school year starts and within a few weeks of the first day. If you cannot meet the teachers face-to-face for whatever reason, send them emails to introduce yourself.
Take Clothing Inventory
Go through the kids’ clothes to see what can be given away. Your kids have very likely outgrown some of their clothes from the previous year, so be sure to cull. It gives you a much better idea of what you need to purchase before the school year begins.
Create A Staging Area
Dedicate a section of your home to school supplies. Make it a place to keep backpacks, outfits for the next day, etc. You may even want to keep a dry erase board in the area to keep track of sports practices, activities, and anything else related to school.
Plan Healthy Lunches
Look for healthy lunch ideas, such as protein-based options that also include plenty of fruit, veggies, and whole grains. Planning nutritious meals at home sets children up for a lifetime of healthy food choices.
Talk About Bullying
Have a discussion with your children about bullying, as it’s something that’s easier than ever in today’s world due to social media and the like. Ensure your children understand it is important to treat everyone with respect, and to speak up if they witness bullying. Make sure they know to tell you if they experience bullying.
Ask About Concerns
Ask your children about any concerns they have about the upcoming school year, as well as what they are looking forward to. This allows you to work through a few issues that left unresolved could result in a rough start to the year.
Keep these tips in mind to make the school year a success!