Start the School Year Right

By: Catherine Kedjidjian

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Summer's end is filled with longing for a few more days of freedom, and excitement and hope for new beginnings, especially for children who are heading off to school for the first time. New school supplies are neatly stacked, new school clothes are yet unblemished, and new friends await.

But the first days–even the first few weeks–of school can be hectic and emotionally challenging for kids and parents alike. Here is a checklist, beyond the standard school supply list, that will help you get ready for the school bell.

 

Keep it Straight
Mark your calendar: Buy a large wall calendar to mark the many conferences, orientation meetings, carpool responsibilities and extra-curricular activities that fill your family's schedule. Use a different color pen or marker for each family member's activities, and hang the calendar in a very visible spot so everyone knows what's happening.

Paperwork: Have an in/out box for all the important paperwork that you need to fill out and return to school--medical forms, emergency cards, book and supply order forms, volunteer sign-up sheets, etc. Deposit all the papers, artwork and other keepsakes that come home each day into a folder, binder or "treasure box."

 

Set the Routine
Bedtime: Ease into an earlier bedtime during the week before school. Start the bedtime routine a few minutes earlier every night, until you hit your goal time on the night before school. With your child going to bed earlier, you will have enough time to prepare for the next day by packing the backpack and setting out clothes.
The kiss goodbye: Start a parting ritual on the first day of school and keep it throughout the year. Whether it's saying the same little phrase, or giving the same special kiss, your child can expect his day to start out right, every day.
Lunch: Some parents find it easier to prepare a lunch the night before; others make it in the morning. Either way, plan your lunch menu a week at a time to avoid guesswork before your morning cup of coffee.

After school: Your child will undoubtedly be hungry as soon as she walks in the door. Have a healthy snack ready and waiting so you can really listen to her tell you about her day. Also, have a folder, binder or box handy to deposit all the papers and artwork that come home each day.

Dinner: Planning ahead for dinner really helps during busy school nights filled with homework, sports, and after-school activities. Registered dietician Hope Warshaw, author of Eat Out, Eat Right (Surrey Books, 2003), suggests that parents make a list of two or three meals that are quick and easy to prepare, and always have the ingredients for these meals on hand.

 

The Emotional Side
Prep work: If your child is making his first trip to school and you sense that he is apprehensive or even downright scared, look for books and videos that can guide you and your child through the unknown. For preschoolers, the video "My First Day" helps anxious children prepare for their first day of school. Great books for soon-to-be kindergarteners include The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing; Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate; and First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg.

Separation anxiety: Give your child a picture of you, or some special item that reminds him of you or of home, to keep in his backpack and look at or touch when he misses you. Also, the routines you set (see above) will give your child reassurance and confidence.

 

Remember Health and Safety
Getting to school safely: Whether your child walks to school, takes a bus, rides a bike, or gets a ride, make sure both you and your child know the route to the bus stop or how to get to school, and know how to travel it safely.

  • On foot: Make sure your child stays on the sidewalk, walks against traffic, and only crosses a street where there is a crossing guard.

  • By bus: The National Safety Council offers these school bus-safety tips: (1) Have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from traffic and the street; (2) Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals that it's okay to approach; (3) Exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus; (4) Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.

  • By bike: A helmet is a must. Walk bikes through intersections.

  • In the car: No matter how close you are to school, take the extra few seconds to buckle up your child. "We're full of excuses," says Christer Gustafsson, Senior Safety Engineer for Volvo Cars in Sweden. "But in the end, if we don't belt our children, we're setting them up for injuries or death."
    • Beat the heat: The first days of school can be hot, and many schools don't have air conditioning. Make sure your child is dressed in cool clothing. Pack a water bottle so your little student can grab a drink throughout the day.
    Lunch and snacks, revisited: "During the summer we tend to relax, and that means our eating habits become relaxed as well," says Warshaw, who also is the mother of a school-age child. "The start of the new school year is a perfect time to pull in the reins and set up your kitchen with healthier food choices to promote better eating habits for the whole family." Warshaw suggests that you pre-wash and portion grapes and berries, have dried fruit, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, and sliced red pepper ready to go. "If parents want their kids to eat well, maintain a healthy body weight and help reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases, then they need to set up their kitchen to make this happen," she says.

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