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Jump Starting the School Year
Tips for a Smooth Transition
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
As summer begins to fade, an electrical charge can be felt in the air. The feeling of excitement takes over as the store aisles become overcrowded and the fashion trends begin to show their true colors. What's all the excitement? It's time to go back to school! However, with back-to-school excitement often comes anxiety, fear and worry from both students and their parents. But with a bit of planning, communication and insight, parents can help their children – and themselves – get off to a great start for school this year.
Children of all ages can be so active that their schedules can sometimes become over booked. And with school starting, how can a parent make sure that children have time for homework, sports, family and friends without wearing themselves down to utter exhaustion? According to Martha Pieper, a columnist with Chicago Parent Magazine, it's a matter of prioritizing.
"Children need to be able to do the things that interest them the most, but only as time allows," says Pieper. "As parents, we know how important school and homework truly are, but we also need to realize how important sports and friends are to our children. Once a schedule is set for the 'must do' things, allow your child to work with you to fill in the 'want to do' things. This will keep you both happy, but will ensure that your child makes time for the 'musts' first."
"With three kids active in sports, there are times when all I do is drive," says Aquilla Rexroat, a nurse's assistant from Chillicothe, Ill. "We have tryouts, practices, games and playoffs for all three of our children during the season and we also have to try to fit in the 'normal' activities such as homework, chores, dinners, school projects and family get-togethers. I often wonder how we are going to do it all, but somehow, we manage. We are all exhausted, but we do what we have to do because this is what the children want to do."