six tips for back to school

Back to school….It’s that time of year  again!

  

 

It’s always a   struggle to get myself and my kids ready for school especially after having   the summer off from routine and schedule. Here are some tips to make it a   smoother start to the school year.

 

1. Are their basic   needs met – make sure to start their day off right ( and yours)  with a   great breakfast. Breakfast is so important its helps kids with focus and   concentration so they can do well in class. Here are some easy breakfast   suggestions:

Cereal with low fat   milk and add some fruit. Its easy to throw some blueberries or strawberries in   with the cheerios. Check that the cereal is low in sugar and high in   fiber.

Multi grain or whole   wheat toast with peanut butter

A piece of fruit   with peanut butter like an apple or banana

Make a fruit salad   on Sunday evening and give them a bowl fro breakfast with yogurt or cottage   cheese on the side.

If in a rush look in   the fridge for any leftovers with a glass of fruit juice. Its not the norm but   its better then NO breakfast!!

 

2. Stay in contact   with your teacher – you can email before school starts to introduce yourself   and discuss any needs your child has or concerns you have. Stay in touch   through out the year not just at parent-teacher conferences. If you don’t have   the email address just go to your school’s website and you can find all the   emails. Its a good way to stay involved even if your a working mom.   

* Involved parent =   successful child*

 

3 Sleep – a few   weeks before school starts get your kids and yourself back on a sleep   schedule. If kids don’t get enough sleep their academic careers will suffer.   This includes parents too – we all need around 8 hours of sleep, if we dont   get it we will feel fatigues, irritable, cranky and eat unhealthy. So, try to   go to bed around the same time each night and wake up around the same time   each morning.

* make sleep and   eating a healthy breakfast a top priority*

 

4. Physical fitness   – this is necessary for all kids. They need to burn off steam during the   day.  Kids do no get enough physical activity at school so we must do   more at home. As adults we tend to live a sedentary life especially if we have   a job where we sit all day. So, make physical activity a family event. Set up   activities for a few times during the week and weekends. Some ideas:   Biking, Hiking, Karate, pumpkin or apple picking, join the local YMCA and take   swimming lessons, etc.

 

5. Homework – set up   a homework schedule and make it the same time everyday so they get into the   routine. It could be right after school or dinner, whatever works best. Set a   place they always work on homework such as the kitchen table or dinning room   table. Be available so if they have questions you are there for   help.

 

6. Good Habits   – make some great new habits or continue the old ones   such as reading before bed, gratitude or prayers at the kitchen table, etc. If   you start young ( even as young as pre-school) they will continue these good   habits until adulthood and longer

 

Have a great school   year!!