How to Prepare Your Child for the School Year

When the school year rolls around, your child must go from having free time throughout the day to going back to a routine schedule. This transition, if not prepared for, can be very challenging for everyone in the family. Today, we're going to talk about how you can prepare ahead of time for the transition from summer to the school year.

Institute a meal schedule

First, you need to ensure that your child is eating all of his or her meals at the same time each day. Eating each meal at the same time will help create the feeling of a schedule and make transitioning to a more rigorous schedule simpler. You should also ensure that each meal is healthy and that any snacks that are being eaten throughout the day are nutritious and well proportioned.

Institute a bedtime

Even if you have a high schooler, bedtime is an important part of their life. Ensuring that they are going to bed at a reasonable time each night will help the transition to wake up early in the morning. Keep in mind that different ages will determine how much sleep each child needs and when. Older children, such as teens will need eight to 9 hours of sleep starting later than a younger child.

Think about a summer class

If you have time at the end of the year, you might think about a summer tutoring session or boot camp. This session will help your child get back into the learning mindset. Each summer, a child is said to lose part of what they learned the previous school year and what's called the summer slide. Having a tutoring session shortly before summer starts cannot only get them in the correct mind frame, but it can also help them catch back up and remember what they have forgotten.

Go School Shopping

Before school starts, you need to make sure that you have everything you need for the classes. Sometimes, you'll be able to get lists ahead of time. Other times you'll know what you need, and you can obtain it without a list. Going on a school shopping session can get your child ready to go back to school both material-wise and mentally. This is because your child will be able to see the materials being bought and shift their mind to the coming season.

Drive by the school

This stuff is a special importance for children going to new schools, whether it's a change in school or graduation from elementary to middle or middle to high. Driving by the school will help them see where they're going to be, visualize their future. If they're new, it can also help dispel any worries or scary thoughts about being the new kid.

Train

If your child is in any of the sports of the school, they are probably supposed to be training over the summer. This is common for sports like football, soccer, and cross country. However, most children don't do their required exercises over the summer. Getting them started back into their exercise routine will help their minds cycle back into the school year while also preparing their bodies for the sports season to come.

Preparing your child for the upcoming school year doesn't have to be complicated. Taking small steps to get them in the right mindset will make the transition easier for both you and your child. Helping them by instituting a bedtime and a set meal schedule will create a routine. Taking them by the school and going school shopping will push their mind towards the new school year. Ensuring that they're doing their exercises will help them get ready for the upcoming sports season. If you're still looking for a place to send your child, Bodies in Motion offers preschool as well as after school for older children.

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