Thursday, July 25, 2013

Getting Ready for Back-to-School


Please comment on the blog if there are any school openings that you would like to see listed! I will add them as the requests come in! 

Disclaimer: Many of these ideas are ripped from a book called “Organize Now!” It has lots of great suggestions and divides the tasks up by week to make it easier for any home to become more organized.
§  Schedule all check-up appointments before back-to-school. Doctor, dentist, and eye care if necessary. Many schools require certain vaccinations in order to attend. Plus, if your child is going to engage in fall sports, they will need a physical before they can participate.
§  Create two “drop-zones.” Have issues with stuff getting thrown around as soon as the kids walk in the door? I think every parent has nightmares trying to control the “kid clutter.” I find that having a nice large trunk for backpacks and lunch bags is a great idea. It keeps the mess hidden and it makes these items to locate the next morning. Plus, it will make it easier to do the “backpack dump” so you can find the necessary paperwork/announcements/grades to help your child which becomes your second “drop-zone.” Have a letter tray nearby where the kids can place paperwork after the backpack dump. You may want to set up file folders labeled “Announcements”, “Graded Papers”, and “Sign and Return to School”.

§  Hang a white-erase board. List the child’s name, if you have more than one, and the subjects under the child’s name. If your child has a constant reminder of what needs to be done, they may be more eager to erase each task. You may want to set up a reward system such as 15 minutes of game/TV time for every task finished. Check over your child’s work. This will allow you to know what they are doing and whether or not they understand the material.
§  Designate a study location. Preferably away from any visual stimulus such as the TV or computer, unless the computer is needed for the homework. If you have more than one child, you may want to set up a card table that has all the supplies your children will need in the middle of the table. This makes it easier to clean up and contain.
§  Don’t over-schedule your child. Allow them to pick one or two activities to be involved in. Your child will know when they have surpassed their limit and they will let you know with a lot of push-back and negative behavior and attitude. But do push them to try a variety of activities while they are learning what they are interested in.
§  Poor morning attitude? Pump up the volume! Playing music in the morning may help put your child in the right from of mind for the rest of the day. Choose classic favorites like Motown or old Dance songs. I really like Beyonce’s “Move Your Body” and Chubby Checker’s “Twist“.
§  Give your child a break. I would come home in the afternoons and unwind for half an hour, grab a snack, and allow myself to clear my mind before diving into homework. Your child is not an automaton please don’t think that they can perform like one! Let them have another break when they accomplish difficult homework tasks. It’s difficult to switch your brain from Math to History in one fell swoop!

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