Start of School Jitters
(after my article on "Start of School Jitters", I have included 3 additional back to school articles from another source)
Even though it was about 22 years ago, I still clearly remember my eldest daughter's
first day of school. We’ve all been there at one time in our lives. New school, new
faces, and a whole new set of anxieties begin to take hold.
Whether it’s the first day of kindergarten or the pressures of
trying to fit in at an entirely new school after moving, young
children especially feel some uneasiness when heading to school
for the first time. Here are three ways to help you make the
transition a smooth one – for both you and your child.
1. Turn the apprehension of starting school into a fun adventure
and discovery. If possible, a few weeks before school starts, take your child
to the school and walk with them through the building. Find your
child’s classroom, the lunchroom and the bathrooms. Giving them
a tour of the school helps create familiarity with the building
and gives your child a sense of independence.
2. If your child will be riding the bus, drive the route with him
or her a few times to help them become familiar with the area.
If they’ll be walking to and from school, create a route to and
from the school and walk it together. This is the best time to
go over basic safety rules as well, such as what to do if
approached by a stranger, or if your child accidentally misses
the bus.
3. Give your child something to look forward to, whether they’re
starting school for the first time, or moving up a grade. A
small reward or treat of some kind for surviving the first-day
jitters can help your child adjust more smoothly and calmly to
their new surroundings.
4. Now that they’re starting a new school or new grade, what can
your child look forward to? Perhaps this is a good time to start
an allowance program or try out for a school sports team. With
every year that they grow, your child will develop an association that
starting a new year of school means increased responsibilities
and increased rewards.
5. No matter how old they are, all children want to be trendy
during those first few days. For each child you have, plan a
special school shopping day just for them. You may have to
splurge on a few “must have” clothes or supplies, but keep it
reasonable. Now is a good time to go through your child’s closet
as well and take stock of their clothes – what fits, what
doesn’t? What can be donated, what can be kept? Have your child
try on the clothes he or she wants to keep, and look for ways to
pair something old with something new – a great way to stay
within your shopping budget, especially if you’ll be outfitting
more than one child.
6. Last, but not least, help your child get off to the best
possible start on that first day by getting them to bed in
plenty of time for the next morning, and preparing a light but
nutritious breakfast. Warm muffins, a hearty bowl of oatmeal, and
some fruit
make that first day a real treat – and help curb
the inevitable hunger pangs that can keep your child from
concentrating.
(the following 3 articles were supplied by News Canada)
Is your child anxious about attending a new school?
The thoughts of going to a new school in September are usually filled with questions, uncertainties and anxieties for young people.
The jitters occur, for example, going from elementary school to junior high. They occur again going from junior high to high school. Imagine how intense the pressures are if your child has to go to a new school entirely.
"With each school year, children are maturing into a new role," says Dr. Donna McGhie-Richmond, educational specialist with Kumon Math and Reading Centres. "And indeed, the new role is far more pronounced if he or she is changing schools. The most valuable support a parent can give at that time is to listen, show understanding, and to encourage with a positive attitude toward the changes ahead."
Ask your child what he or she thinks will be different and what might be the hardest thing. Share your own experiences with change, how you felt and how you coped. Here are some changes to consider:
Elementary School to Junior High:
Instead of one teacher, one group of friends, and one classroom, students will now have many. Students rotate for different subjects and lockers replace a permanent desk for their books and belongings.
Junior High to High School:
Responsibilities intensify now with the need to set long-term academic goals. Students deal with pre-requisites, peer pressure, independence, study skills, workload, balancing school with extracurricular activities, and possibly an after-school job.
New Kid in School:
Brand new surroundings, the need to make new friends, meet new teachers, adapt to a new routine - all of this in addition to the academic challenges outlined above.
"In elementary school, kids rely on parents to help them adjust to change, but as students move on from elementary school to junior high, and then on to high school, the responsibility for adapting shifts to their shoulders," Dr. McGhie-Richmond explained. "Prepare your child for this by guiding him or her towards self-management: prioritize, set a schedule, set goals, and balance schoolwork with all of life's other activities."
New school pressures can also be minimized by keeping the home-front routines as stable as possible. Avoid the morning rush, for example, by getting organized the night before. And on that first day, make sure to talk to your child that evening, encourage discussion, and celebrate the achievement of successfully tackling something new.
Back-to-School: Tips for back-to-school jitters
Going back-to-school in September can be the biggest transition of the year, say education specialists. Children may experience a lot more anxiety about the approaching change in routine than is readily seen - and without doubt, the pressures of back-to-school schedules impact the whole family.
"Children struggle with the thoughts of change and unknown demands the same way adults do," says Dr. Donna McGhie-Richmond, educational specialist with Kumon Math and Reading Centres. "We've all experienced that dreaded shift from vacation to work and it's the same feeling for children heading back-to-school. Transition anxieties are normal and to be expected."
Parents can help by taking the fear out of the unknown. Prepare children well in advance, says Kumon's expert, and be explicit. With young children, for example, create a schedule and post it on the fridge. The structure will give them comfort because they'll know what to expect. Consider these guidelines too:
- Re-instate bedtimes and begin to wake children earlier at least a week before school begins. It's important for them to be fresh and well rested.
- Talk about how they feel heading back-to-school and that nervousness is to be expected.
- Talk about what they will do on the first day, such as meeting new teachers, entering a new classroom, and catching up with friends and making new ones.
- Involve children in purchasing and organizing back-to-school items, from school supplies to clothing.
- Ensure you are available after school, or on that first evening, to talk about the experiences of the first day. Plan a special dinner, or dessert. Make it an event to celebrate.
- Talk about learning goals for the year. Negotiate a regular study time and establish a regular place for homework.
- Encourage and display confidence in your child. Your confidence will produce confidence in him or her.
Back to school checklist
With September drawing near, parents and children across the country are getting set to return to school. Focused on ensuring parents and kids have everything they need for school, Canadian Tire has put together the following checklist to help ensure parents and kids are ready for the big day.
- Check with the school to ensure all registration requirements have been taken care of and ensure that the school has emergency contact numbers.
- Determine how your child will be getting to school and then plan the safest route possible by choosing the most direct way with intersections that have crossing guards.
- Walking or riding to school is an excellent way to fit physical activity into your child's day. If your child is riding his/her bike, ensure the bike is in good working condition, that their helmet fits properly and the bike has a bell. Don't forget to lock-up any unattended bikes!
- To help ensure your little ones have everything they need, contact the school to see if it has a supply checklist. Some of the basic items most students need include: notebooks or paper, pens, pencils, pencil crayons, ruler, eraser, glue stick, pencil case and backpack.
- Allowing kids to choose their supplies will help create excitement about heading back to school. Whether it's notebooks, binders or lunch bags, Canadian Tire carries many brands and licenses, including Batman, Barbie, Orange Country Chopper and more that are sure to be a hit with kids.
- A healthy lunch and snacks will help ensure kids have the energy they need to get through the day. By choosing a cooler lunch bag and using plastic storage containers, you can help ensure food stays fresh. Bottled water and juices are a great way to keep kids hydrated. For a refreshing treat, freeze water bottles or juice boxes overnight.
- Don't forget homework. Check with your child everyday to see if any work was sent home. Buying a ready-to-assemble desk, desk lamp and desk organizer is a simple and affordable way to create a student's very own workspace away from the distraction of television and video games.
News Canada
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