After lax rules and relative freedom of summer vacation, students often have mixed feeling about getting back to school. Some students are eager to get back with the social events and friends, but others are not longing for sitting for hours inside the class. Parents should be aware of this problem and they should do these to make a smoother transition:
- Plan for a better start: The first morning is crucial for the mood of your children. A few days before children go back to school, re-establish regular bedtime habits, so they will have enough rest. It’s a good idea to enforce a phone curfew or no-computer rule. Quiet reading of school material could get children sleep better.
- Be prepared: A few days before children go back to school, prepare them mentally by asking them to collect school items, set out school clothes and arrange lunch boxes. So, during the first morning, they are easy to find. Things will be much easier if children are well organized before they go back to school. Morning time is always a rush, no matter how prepared you are. So, mood can get testy and it’s a good idea to be relaxed the night before. Make sure that all important items are placed in the right place, so there’s no frantic drama as children run and grab whatever they can during the first morning.
- Eat tasty breakfast: It’s not only about making sure that breakfast is very healthy, you need to make it tasty as well. When people eat tasty food, the endorphin release will make them feel more relaxed and happier. If your children have no allergic reactions to dairy products, then it’s a good idea to start with dairy-based breakfast and fresh fruit. Pancake made from whole-wheat flour and organic honey could also become a good source of both complex and simple carbohydrate, which will keep children feel energized for the whole day. Boring breakfast won’t add positively to the moods of your children.
- Be fully positive: Make sure that your children feel completely positive about everything. Understand more about their interests and enthusiasms. As parents, you should already know things that make them happier. Talk only about positive thoughts and feelings to your children, especially about the benefits of education for their future. Proclaim your confidence about the ability of your children. When dealing with children, parents need to keep their negative thoughts and experiences to themselves.
Discuss often: There should be a relaxed discussion session almost each day where children can ask questions and share their thoughts. Make this session blends seamlessly into daily activities, so children won’t feel that it’s a scheduled discussion. You can do this inside the car during a trip, after dinner or in other occasions. Parents should also share their thoughts and talk more about their days. For smaller children, these discussion sessions are good opportunities to stretch their communication skills and vocabulary muscles. It’s a special family time that children will always remember for a long time.