It’s August and most area children will soon head back to school. For many children this is exciting, but for others, this time is scary. This might be especially true if your child is going to full day school for the first time. This is a big transition for children and their families. Fortunately, it’s possible to make the adjustment easier. Three local moms, two them teachers and one a pediatrician, share practical ways to prepare your child for all-day school.
Visit the school.
Heather Buss, an Olathe elementary school teacher and mother of two, says children “need to have visited their school at least once or twice so they are familiar with the staff and feel comfortable with their new environment.” This is even more important if your child has never attended the school. Call the school’s office and see if you can arrange a visit before the school year starts. Most schools will have a registration day, so that might be your best opportunity to give your child a sneak peak.
Practice good sleep habits.
“One of the most important things is to ensure every child gets a good night’s sleep. Trying to prepare for this well in advance and not just a couple of days before school starts is important,” says Dr. Jennifer Mellick, an Overland Park pediatrician and mother of four. Your children are likely to resist early bed times, so consider moving bed times up in 10 or 15 minute increments. Wake up times also need to be consistent. Establish a wake up time that allows children plenty of time to prepare for the day.
Ensure children get a healthy breakfast.
Mellick gives the following tips: “Avoid high sugar choices like sugared cereals, donuts, Poptarts and Toaster Strudels. Kids need protein every morning, so waffles and pancakes with syrup can't be the only thing offered. Better choices are high fiber cereals made with whole grains, eggs, turkey sausage, yogurt or oatmeal, and of course milk.”
Encourage independence.
Payne says one of the best ways parents can help children adjust is to let them do things for themselves. “The first couple of days, it’s okay to walk them all the way in to their classrooms,” she says. However, she explains, “The longer that happens, the harder it is for kids to earn independence.” If children are still uncomfortable after a few days, she recommends finding a buddy such as an older sibling or a neighbor to help children get to their classrooms.
In addition to walking to their own classrooms, Payne says children need to be able to listen to two or three directions at once and then follow them. She also explains that children should be encouraged to put on their own jackets and take care of their own bathroom needs. Be sure to have your child dress in clothes that she can put on herself. If your child packs her lunch, have her practice opening everything by herself so she is comfortable. Finally, Payne encourages parents to teach children the proper way to ask for help should they encounter a problem.
Turn off the television.
“School work is so much less exciting than a television show,” explains Payne. Avoiding television in the morning helps children see school work as more interesting, which helps them be more excited about school.
Read.
“Children need to be read to for at least 20 minutes a day,” says Buss. “The more they are exposed to books, the more successful they will be in school.” Payne adds that teachers can help children learn to hold a pencil and do many other things, but it’s being read aloud to from an early age that really helps kids do well in school. Feeling successful will naturally lead to an easier transition into school.
Have realistic expectations.
“Expect meltdowns,” says Payne. If possible, limit extracurricular activities during the first month of school. “Learning and playing takes a lot out of kids,” adds Buss.
Follow the advice of these parents and you just might find the hardest part of transitioning to full day school is tracking down all those items on that school supply list.
Elizabeth Welter lives in Olathe where she’ll soon send her oldest child to full day school.