By: Jaimi Bird, M.A., CCC-SLP
Is your child prepared for the school year to begin?
Does your house have a feeling of excitement or the undercurrent of dread?
Here are 5 tips to make this school year start off well.
Most families are getting their school supply list out and making sure their student has everything on the list so they are ready for the first day of school. But having new pencils, notebooks and folders is only a small part of being ready for school! The routines that you begin at home now will help your child start the school year successfully.
Here are 5 tips to help your family start this school year off on the right foot:
- Set a positive tone. Children are perceptive and your attitude about the new school year will be the attitude they adopt as well. Share your excitement with your kids about the new opportunities that are ahead of them. Sending a message of confidence and competence can help ease the transition to a new classroom and routine.
- Be organized. Having systems that work to keep your family organized will make all the difference. Place a family calendar in a central location in the home. Let your children take an active part in the organization by writing their schedule on the calendar too (soccer practice, music lessons, birthday parties etc.). Choose a place for everything— have your kids put their back packs and shoes in the same place everyday, make the family homework spot and time be the same each day. Being consistent and predictable is key.
- Establish a schedule and routine. Before the first day of school you should be well into your “school year routine”. Have your child set their clothes out at night before they go to sleep. Forego the lazy mornings of summer and practice getting the family moving and ready before the first day the school bus comes around the corner. If everyone knows the expectations and have practiced for a week or so before school starts it will be much easier for everyone!
- Challenge the mind. If your child has taken a break from learning this summer (we hope not!), now is the time to power the brain back up again! Start limiting screen time. Play games that are fun but make you think. Here are some game ideas and even more games! Having fun as a family is a great way to, not only keep our brains active, spend family time together.
- Communicate. Keep all lines of communication open! Talk with your chid, truly hear their concerns and worries. Often times validating your child’s thoughts and feeling by listening will ease fears and let your child know you care. Communicating with your child’s teacher is important too. Don’t be afraid to send an email if you have questions or a concern— feel free to just send a note to introduce yourself.
If your family follows these 5 tips, you will be setting the foundation for a positive school year! We all want all children to have a great school experience and learn to love learning! If your child is struggling don’t “wait it out”. Be proactive and give them all the tools they need to make them successful. At Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center we offer FREE screenings for all of our services: speech, language, writing, math, and dyslexia. We have offices in North Liberty and the Des Moines metro.
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in the Iowa City, IA area and Des Moines, IA area. We provide individual speech-language therapy and tutoring as well as offering small group academic programs. At Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center our passion is to help kids achieve effective communication skills and gain academic success. Contact us for more information on how we can help your child succeed.
info@enrichmenttherapies.com
740 Community Drive, Unit A
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2553
infodm@enrichmenttherapies.com
5530 West Pkwy, Suite 300
Johnston, IA 50131
515-419-4270
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