First Day Jitters

            Wednesday, September 8^th is just around the corner.  If your household is like mine we are planning school shopping and discussing how to get the children back on normal bedtime schedules so that they are in a routine.  This summer weather has left us scratching our heads however, we can be thankful for no hurricanes or forest fires at least.

            Your children, as well as you, are starting to feel anxious or perhaps a little stressed about that first day of school.  This is especially true when your first child is heading off to kindergarten.  Here are a few simple ways to help overcome some of those “first day jitters” and prepare your child to return to school.

Ø       Set aside some quiet time with just you and your child to talk about the upcoming school year and what it may be like.  You may want to write a letter to a friend or relative talking about the exciting upcoming school year.

Ø       Take a trip to school the week before it starts to just walk around.  We are getting a new playground that should be complete by Sept. 1, which you could visit.

Ø       If you are concerned about some special needs that your child may have do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or drop them a note before the school year begins.

Ø       Pull out some quiet board games or spend some time reading together, so that your child gets back into the routine of sitting and working together with others for short periods of time.

Ø       Include your child in your daily tasks and give some responsibilities to him/her for household chores.  This is a good warm-up for practicing homework skills.

Ø       Set the rules now.  Make sure your child knows what the expectations are for homework, bedtime, TV watching and playtime before the school year begins.  This will make the transition much easier on both of you.

 Please enjoy the rest of the summer and be sure to call me if you have any questions or concerns. 

We look forward to seeing you and your child in a few short weeks. 

Be cheerful!