It Takes About A Month

Whether your children have started Kindergarten, Middle School, or Highschool this year, they will be needing a little guidance from you to help them through all the changes. It usually takes about a month for things to fall into place, and for a new routine to be established for both of you. Following, I have included a few ideas and strategies to help with the "new school year" stress.

Talk to your children. Let them discuss their feelings and thoughts about school with you. Try not to project to them your nervousness, but instead instill in them that you trust their judgement about things and that you trust their ability to cope with any situations that may occur. Be sure to listen!

Be honest with your children, and let them know that there will be times and days that everything at school will be great, but there will be times as well, that they will wish they were at home. This is normal!

If you haven't already visited the school, be sure to go with your child to the "beginning of school" orientation. Many schools have this at the beginning of the year. If this is not on your school's agenda, call them to set this up. This shows your child that you are interested in their days!

Usually at the "beginning of school" orientation, there is a short P.T.A. meeting, and there are many activities that students perform for their peers and parents. If your child is not involved in any activities at school, try to find something that they are interested in to get them involved. They will be happy and this will keep "idle" time out of their way!

Believe it or not, once our children start school each year, they will go through many mental and physical changes. Be there and talk to them confidently about their feeling, thoughts and concerns with clothes, supplies that they might need, and especially their friends. They will see that they can come to you when they need advice!

This is a good time to start preparing for the future. Yes! Even in the elementary grades. Start thinking and talking about next year, or next summer or things that they can do to stay involved all year long. Help them, and lead them to find the right information they may need to succeed in the "long" run. They will greatly respect you!

And lastly, take care of yourself! Stay busy while all the changes are taking place and your own routine is beginning to take form. You will be more comfortable in about a month or so. Try to find things that can help to make your responsibilities easier. For example. Pack lunches the night before. Have an idea of what breakfast will be like. Keep the television off in the morning. Even with the older children! This keeps them from "procrastinating". Tell them to decide what they want to wear the night before. Believe it or not, this helps with the "teenage clothes changes" in the morning. Some mornings they will not change, but there will always be mornings this will happen. Just be prepared and accept this.

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