Going back to school can be just as hard on the parents as it is on the kids. After all, even though they have to get up and get ready, it is usually the parents who are setting alarms and getting them out of bed, getting breakfast on the table, and rounding up shoes, jackets, backpacks, etc. to get them out the door and to school on time!The following are a few back to school tips for parents:
Tip One- Routines make life easier: You know that your child needs their backpack in the morning, so at night, after doing homework, have them put it in the same place. Every kid needs to read at least twenty minutes a day, so why not make that part of your daily routine? There are things you child has to do daily, and if you create a routine for getting up and out the door in the morning, for dealing with homework and things after school, and another for bedtime to ensure proper rest, then chances are things will be a lot smoother for all of you.
Tip Two-Prepare in advance: It is a good idea to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for your kids to go back to school, however it is also a good idea to prepare things physically. If you are going to make lunches daily, why not bake up goodies to go in them in advance, and put them in the freezer? If your child needs notebooks, pens, etc. it is a good idea to purchase those throughout the year. The more prepared you are for your child to go back to school, the less stressful it will be, and the more successful it will be.
Tip Three- Take some time for you: Back to school is a whirlwind of meeting teachers, signing forms, buying clothes, shoes, books, and supplies. It is a lot of drop offs, pick ups, complaints, frustrations, forms, immunizations, and the list goes on. During the hubbub of back to school, it is easy for parents to get over stressed and stretched thin. In order to handle back to school better, and all of the work it entails, be sure to take some time out to do something fun and relaxing. You might need a night out, or in. Figure out what you can do for yourself, that will fit into your schedule, and not leave you feeling frazzled.
Tip Four–Avoid separation anxiety yourself and for your kid: Practice techniques for lessening separation anxiety. Help your child get used to the idea of being away from you, and determine ways you can cope with it as well if you think it might be a problem for you. Being well informed about what is going on with your child, where they will be, what they will be learning, and having plans for emergencies, etc. can help you cope with separation anxiety.