1. Shop early. If you wait until the week before Labor Day, the stores will be crowded. Use staples.com or officemax.com and order supplies from thecomfort of your home.

2. Find a backpack that is ergonomically safe for your child’s spine and muscles. Help them set up a system for keeping their supplies organized and keeping track of homework/tests.

3. Contact your children’s teachers within the first two weeks of school. Give them your contact information and let them know you want to work with them as a team for your child’s success. Have the first meeting/phone call be a positive one to establish a rapport, before major issues occur. If there are health concerns for you or your child, let them know so they can be aware of the impact they may have in school.

4. The week before school starts, establish reasonable bedtimes and observe them. Also wake up at the time you will need to for school. This will give your body time to adjust to a new routine and allow you and your children to be well rested. Doctors recommend that children under 10 years old have 10 hours of sleep each night! Pre-teens and teens need 8-9 hours.

5. Plan an afternoon/evening schedule for completing homework and doing household chores. Do not get into the habit of staying up late to finish work. Allow 30-45 minutes of “down” time after school. Children as
young as 5 years old can understand that if they help with housework, Mom/Dad will have more time to play with them and help them with homework!

6. Limit time at the TV, computer, or video console. Encourage kids of all ages to read, draw, and make fun projects. Children can “earn” time to watch TV, use the computer (other than for school work), or play video games. For every 5 minutes they spend reading, they will earn 5 minutes playing games. Check what they have read with comprehension questions, to see if they have absorbed what they were reading!

7. Stay in contact with your child’s teacher on a regular basis. Do not wait for progress reports or calls home – be pro-active by asking the teacher if she/he has noticed your child struggling. Also, ask your teacher what your child is doing well, so you can reinforce those skills and give frequent praise at home!

8. Look through your child’s backpack each day. Go to the school to look at your child’s desk/locker about once a month. Help him/her stay organized – this reduces students’ stress levels and increases academic performance.

9. Encourage your child to become involved in extracurricular activities, particularly community service based organizations.

10. When discussing school in front of your child (whether it is conversations with your spouse, friends, or family members), always be positive. Do not make demeaning or disrespectful remarks about the teacher. Do not criticize the school or administration in his/her presence. While academic success is important, it is equally valuable that your child learns to respect the teachers and authorities and view school with a positive
perspective.

Article written by Brandi Lasnick, © 2007 butyoudontlooksick.com