Preparing for New School Year

Grandparents Often Help Prepare Children For School

When families prepare for the first month of school, they often include grandparents who provide before and after school care, when possible.  Sometimes they are on call in case of emergencies or available on Face Time or Skype for children to discuss a problem immediately and a parent is not available. All kinds of support systems are being generated this time of year.

  Teachers and physicians offer tips to prepare for a positive school start and successful year. More than ever, success in school depends on a partnership between extended families and school.

 Helpful School Family Checklist

·       Check out school supply lists 

.       Check bus schedules and other transportation needs

Check Transportation Needs

·       Are registration information and vaccinations current?

·       Who will be with the children before and after school?

·       Is there a backup plan for sick days and vacations?

·       Does the school offer before and after school programs and tutoring/homework help so children of all ages do not go home to an unsupervised house with access to the Internet and friends?

·       Is there a quiet spot to do homework, daily reading, and projects at home?

·       Are all technologies like TV’s, computers, personal devices, and phones in the kitchen or family room and not in the privacy of children’s bedrooms? Do they have child protection? Are they checked often for site history and communication with others?

·       Are technology rules discussed, 

written, and supervised?

·       When the family is home is there a time scheduled for a snack and schoolwork before TV, play, or personal classes and sports?

·       Do children know how to fix themselves a bowl of cereal or make a cheese or nut butter sandwich? Can they find a piece of fruit like an apple or banana, vegetables or cheese and crackers to hold on until dinner?

Can Children Find & Fix Healthy Snacks?

·        Is someone ready to help with assignments?

·       Are backpacks checked each evening for notes and updates from school?  Are school papers looked over? Is there a schedule for long term projects to avoid night- before craziness? Does someone check regularly with the teacher and teacher’s web site? Are papers coming home? Are desks checked for stashed papers? Is the teacher contacted before conferences if there is suspicion something is not quite right?

·       Take time around dinner for a moment to talk with children daily about two good 

things that happened, something new they learned, and something that was not good, not right, or worrisome at school. Stay alert for “friends” problems.

Families may wish to encourage reading for relaxation before sleeping. It tends to calm the brain. Games and Internet activity excite the brain and make it more 

difficult to sleep.

Scientific studies suggest children need about 10 hours of sleep every night to avoid a sleep deficit by Friday.
Sketches: Mark Nowicki
Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

For more science and math STEM adventures go to -  grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live Tuesdays at 4:30pm and Saturdays at 8:30 am and pod casts archived on the site.