Back to School Success Tips
Heading back to school looks a lot different for families in the era of COVID-19. Some of you may already have started and others may be getting ready for the first day of school. Some are preparing for full-time at home digital learning. Regardless of your child’s location, here are a few tips to help parents set their kids up for success regardless of whether the children are at school campus or digital learning remotely.
Create a Daily Schedule and make it Visible - Write or type out a daily schedule for each child. Include what time your child needs to get up, morning routines at home including breakfast, when they leave for school and return home, dinner, homework, after school activities, bedtime routines and when they go to bed.
Establish Morning Routines - In addition to your schedule, make sure your child starts every day with a healthy breakfast. Set your children up for long-term success and allow them to perform at their top performance levels.
Have a Good Attitude - As Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Remind your children that they control their attitude and encourage them as they head off to school each day to focus on learning, work hard, have fun and be kind.
Establish Good Homework Habits - Set aside time each afternoon or evening for your child to do homework. Make sure they have a quiet and clean location in your home to do their work. Encourage them to do their best, not to rush and remind them to turn their work in.
Initiate Good Teacher Communication - Make sure your children understand that while teachers are super smart, they aren’t mind-readers. Talk to your child about initiating conversations with their teachers when they have questions, concerns or the material isn’t making sense. Help encourage them to create a strong relationship through open communication, a skill that will come in handy as they grow older.
Encourage Positive Friendships - Be supportive of friendships with children who have good character, are honest and make good choices. Gently discourage friendships with kids who don’t have the same moral compass as your family or who may have a negative influence on them. Be sure to teach them to how to do this in a kind manner. Frequently check-in to make sure you are able to step in if needed or loop in their teacher.
Share Time - Make sure to ask your kids what they learned at school each day. Dinnertime is a great opportunity to do this while the whole family is together. Have them tell you their favorite part of the day or activity. Remember to give them your full attention, praising their accomplishments and letting them know how proud you are of their hard work.