Five Things to Start the School Year Off Right

There are five essential things your kids need to start school off on the right foot. Good nutrition is one place to start. Ensuring kids are comfortable in their clothes is another. Be sure your child is prepared, for any grade, with these five things:

Healthy snacks- Most important is a good, well balanced breakfast. I make an entire box of pancakes every week and then my son can reheat them for breakfast and it takes no extra time. After breakfast give them a healthy snack for school. Don’t worry. they will still find a way to find sugar and chocolate into the day!  

• Resist the multi-packs of chips, cookies and other salty and sugar snacks in the month leading up to the beginning of school. Buying a bag of apples, making homemade popcorn, cutting up fresh carrots and celery will prove cheaper during the school year. Start the school year right be sending kids to school with healthy, fresh snacks for snack time or to accompany lunch.

Know Where You're Going- Remember back to some anxiety you felt when entering a new place. How many really thought there might be a pool on the roof of their school?

• Help your child feel familiar with the building and room where they will spend a great part of their time in the upcoming school year. As early as possible, make a visit to the school, walk to the classroom, locate the cafeteria, the principal's office, the gym, the nurse's office, the cafeteria, the media center, lockers, entrances, etc. so that your child can have a visual image of what to anticipate.
• If you should happen to bump into teachers, principals, librarians along the way, all the better. Introduce yourself and your child and establish a relationship.  
• Even if your child has already attended the school, it's not a bad idea to drop by right before school starts to ease the way back.
• Getting information on who may be in your child's class or classes may help to ease some anxiety also.
• Many schools have a night before school starts to go to the school, where you can meet the teachers, set up your supplies, and meet some organizations that are going to be at the school.

Know the Rules- Most schools have a rule book that is rarely read. Read them.

• It is important for parents and students to be on the same page regarding rules. A child's interpretation of the rules may vary greatly from the reality of the school expectation.
• Dress codes, start times, tardy rules, electronics in the school building, Drug and Safe School policies and sexual harassment are all issues that start much earlier than most parents of young children think. Be aware of these concerns and discuss them with your student, as feels appropriate.
• Reviewing rules form the school handbook or registration packet can clarify expectations for the students. It also gives the parent an opportunity to make a connection about why the rule may be in place and what specific incident may have caused there to be such a rule. It is always better to find about potential problems BEFORE they occur.

Academic readiness - Some time should be spent each week during the summer helping kids with academic readiness.

• Preschoolers should work on letter recognition and reciting the alphabet.
• Kids entering Kindergarten should practice coloring, drawing, writing their names and writing the alphabet.
• Kids entering first grade should continue working on writing, reading and addition.
• All other students should have a summer reading list.

A positive attitude - Start the school year off right by helping your child develop a positive attitude towards school.

• Help your child wake up early enough to have breakfast, get ready and head to school without the mad morning rush. By preparing homework, snacks and lunch, backpack and clothes the night before, parents can ease school morning stress.
• Reward academic achievements, completed homework and good behavior awards at home. The reward can be a favorite outing, a new book or a "kid's choice" homemade dinner for the family.
• Reach out to parents of students you don't know to set up play dates. Make plans to attend school-sponsored events together, to help grow your child's circle of friends at a new school.