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August 9, 2012

Positivity the key to preparing kids for return to school

By Sarah Guinn Globe Staff Writer

JOPLIN, Mo. — Getting kids back into their school year routine can be difficult. At least a week before school begins, parents need to start helping kids transition out of their summertime schedule.

“Don’t wait until Aug. 14 to change,” said Renee White, the project manager for mental health support for the Joplin School District.

White offers a list of recommendations to help parents prepare for getting their kids back into the school routine.

 

Get the conversation started

Tone is key when beginning the back-to-school conversation. Parents should have an “excitable, friendly and exuberant” approach with their children, White said.

One way parents can do this is to talk to their kids about their friends. This can help get kids excited to go back and find out what classes they may share with their friends, she said.

Back-to-school conversation isn’t just necessary for kids, though. White recommends parents talk with each other to maintain consistency and positivity. When buying school supplies and clothes, for example, White said, “We know it’s expensive and groan, but don’t do that in front of the kids.”



Make a daily schedule

Some parents may think scheduling is silly, White said. But having a daily schedule on the fridge is a useful tool. White recommends making a column for each child and rows for different times of day. This way parents and kids can visualize together how the morning routine will take place.

“As silly as that may seem, it’s really helpful,” White said. “Especially if there’s multiple people in the home.”

A daily schedule is particularly helpful for young kids Ñ it will help them manage their time effectively in the morning, allowing them to figure out when to wake up, get dressed and be ready for the bus.

And to add some fun, White recommends decorating the schedules with pictures.



Stay positive, even with defiance

If parents hear the dreaded, “I don’t want to go to school today,” White recommends using a “choice” system. Parents can say, “Would you like to dress yourself or have me dress you?”

In some cases, though, it’s a matter of parents understanding their kid’s personality, White said.

“If your child is not a morning person, give some time for that, and give them time to wake up instead of hurrying them along,” she said. “Defiance can result from that.”

For parents who may have ongoing defiance issues, resources are available through school and community counselors, she said.

Getting back into a new routine will take two to three weeks, White said.

“Be patient when kiddos aren’t following the chart exactly or are groggy,” she said. “It may feel chaotic, but it’ll smooth out.”



Familiarize kids with their schedules

Kids need to be prepared beyond having backpacks and lunches ready to go the night before, White said. They need to check the bus schedule and calculate how much time it will take to get ready to be picked up.

And if kids are attending a new school, White recommends checking out the new building prior to the first day of school. Driving by the school, attending an open house or making an informal visit to the school will help reduce first-day jitters, she said.

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