The start of a new school year can be an exciting yet stressful time. Here are just a few things to keep in mind to make it more enjoyable for students, their families and the teachers.
Establish good routines by creating a consistent schedule for getting up, going to bed, and for doing other things like:
- Homework. If possible, have a dedicated space for studying and completing assignments. This can help to promote a sense of normalcy and reduce the stress and uncertainty typically associated with heading back to class.
- Eating. Do what you can to eat a well-balanced diet to maintain your energy level throughout the day.
- Sleep. The importance of a good night’s rest cannot be overstated. Adequate sleep leads to better physical and mental health and helps students focus on their school work, often leading to better performance in ALL types of school activities, including testing and sports.
- Exercise. Engaging in physical activities you enjoy like walking, jogging, playing sports, even dancing can improve mood, cognitive function and the ability to focus. It has been suggested that even 15 minutes a day can reduce stress, though 60 minutes is ideal to get the most benefit out of it.
Parents, help your children organize books, binders, backpacks, etc. Teach them how to prepare without doing it all for them. This takes time and patience, but it can help prepare them for other things that come up during the day and in life in general.
Always encourage your children to do their best no matter what assignment they’re given.
Help your children set reasonable goals/expectations for themselves. If you or they set unrealistic goals for them and they don’t succeed, they are likely to get discouraged and give up.
Listen to how your child thinks and feels and let them know you’ll be there for them with extra support if and when it’s needed. Communicate any concerns openly with your child and their teachers to identify strengths and weaknesses BEFORE they become an issue.
With so much to do — school, work, extracurricular activities, etc. — and only 24 hours in a day it can be difficult to get everything done. Balance is key to avoid burnout. What can you do?
- Take some time for things you enjoy away from school like family and friends, art, music, or spending some time appreciating the many wonders of nature all around you.
- If you enjoy writing, try journaling as an outlet. You may surprise yourself with the variety of stories you come across in your daily life while going through your daily routine that you can share with others or keep to yourself! As an extra added bonus it often helps to relieve stress!
One last note: As you shop for your child’s school supplies, why not go the extra mile and ask their teacher if they have any specific needs. Examples include: Kleenex, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, band-aids, dry erase markers, etc.
Card stock paper is often used to produce more durable copies as well as craft projects. Similarly, laminating sheets are often used to preserve copies for future use, but are rarely donated.I also learned that scented pens or markers are popular among elementary school teachers and students used for grading papers.
These things may seem extravagant, but actually they are VERY practical, and if they are not provided, our teachers often spend money out of their own pockets to get them — even though the job doesn’t pay enough for them to live at or near where they work.
That hardly seems fair to me. What about you?