5 Ways To Make This Your Best School Year Yet
The lunches are packed. New folders are purchased and ready to be filled. The alarm clocks are set. It’s official – it’s back to school time! While heading back to school can be an exciting and stressful time for both you and your child, it’s also an incredibly important time. It’s during these next few weeks that you can help set the tone for the rest of the year. When you start the new year on the right foot, feeling prepared and ready, you’re more likely to have a successful year! So, how do you want this school year to go? We’ve got the perfect back to school tips just for you!
If you’re looking to make this the best school year yet, you’ve come to the right place! Take a look below for our 5 back to school tips for parents to make this the best school year ever!
1. Mark Your Calendar
After the carefree style of summer, getting back into a routine for school can be really challenging (for both kids and parents!). One particularly difficult transition can be going from a very relaxed schedule to a packed calendar. The best way to get ahead of missed appointments, frantic calls for a babysitter, and any other unnecessary surprises is to mark your calendar.
Take some time at the beginning of the year to put as much as you can on your calendar. Everything from Parent/Teacher Conferences to Spring Break to days off for Professional Development or recurring Karate practice on Thursdays. Mark it all down! This will help you identify any potential problems early on and give you time to find a solution! If you have a personal calendar and a shared/family calendar – be sure to add the events to both so everyone is in the loop.
2. Stay Informed
As a parent trying to balance day-to-day life with your child’s school life, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are errands to run, meals to make, appointments to schedule – it’s a lot! While it can feel overwhelming, it’s important for you to stay up to date on all communication sent home from your child’s school. This is how you’ll find out about important updates, any changes that could impact your child, learn about any news or events, and more. While you might think the last thing you want is to open another email or read another letter – trust us, it’s much easier to stay on top of things when you’re already in the know!
Schools typically are aware of information burnout from families so most really only send updates and news as needed. That means if it’s going to you, there’s something for you in it! Make it a routine to catch up on all communications after dinner during your child’s homework time. Or maybe create a school folder within your email to help you stay organized and sort through the communication when you have the time.
3. Identify Areas Of Improvement
As the saying goes, there’s always room for improvement! As you’re kicking off a new school year, take a moment to reflect on last year. What worked really well for your family? What were some areas that you struggled with? Use that knowledge to help craft your plan for this year.
If you were always running behind in the morning, try packing lunches the night before. If homework time was always a struggle, work with your child to establish a new routine within the first few weeks of school. Struggling with pickups? Reach out to families in your area to see if anyone is interested in setting up a rotating carpool to help. Being proactive around areas you struggled with last year is key in helping to change things this year!
4. Communicate
We know you’ve heard this one before but…communication is key! Your best tool, on all fronts, to make this year successful is communication. Establish an open communication plan with your child’s team right from the beginning. Keep them in the loop if there are changes at home, a death in the family, or if your child just had a rough night and didn’t sleep well. What happens at home impacts your child’s day at school and vice versa so it’s important that everyone is on the same page. You are partners with your child’s team when it comes to your child’s education. Just as you want to be made aware if something happens during the day or if your child has been appearing more anxious than usual lately, your child’s team wants to know all they can to make every school day a productive and positive one for your child.
During these early weeks, also establish an open line of communication with your child. This will help them know they can come to you with any questions or concerns. It’s not always easy to get your child to open up but it is possible! Check out our past blog on getting your child to open up about school to learn some helpful tips!
5. Lead by example
You are your child’s best role model so this school year remember to lead by example! Life can get hectic, stressful, and busy. But it’s the strategies we use and how we handle them that make a world of difference and when you set a good example, your child notices. When you have a bedtime routine that makes sure you wind down for the night and get enough sleep – your child might not be so resistant to coming up with a nighttime routine for themselves. When they see you using strategies like folders, reminders, and movement breaks, reminding them to do the same won’t always elicit an eye roll. And finally, when they see you taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically – they’ll be inspired to do the same!
While the days may already be flying by, there is still time to set you and your child up for a successful school year! Follow these back to school tips for a great year ahead!
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