Get Your Kids Ready for the
New School Year
September is just around the corner and soon it will be time to make that transition from the beach to the bus.
Rade Gratton from Tutor Doctor Lake County and her daughter Mason join Studio A with tips on how to get your kids ready for the challenges of the upcoming school year.
Set the Clock Back
If your kids have been staying up later and sleeping in over the vacation, it’s time to reset their routines to avoid a very tough first week back to school. Opt for a gradual reintroduction of early bed times and waking up times by getting your kids to go to bed and get up 15 minutes earlier each day over the week before school. This gradual resetting of their clocks will make it easier for them to get up in time for school.
Power Up the Brain
“Studies have shown that children lose between twenty and thirty percent of what they learned the previous year over the summer,” said Rade. “So it’s always a good idea to have a game plan for August.” She suggests keeping the folders and notes from the previous semester and reviewing these over the month of August.
Reading is another great way to get those brains in gear. Rade recommends that younger kids should read books and then act them out to help with comprehension. You can encourage reading by offering rewards and selecting books that interest your child.
Math is an area that needs a lot of attention over the month of August if your child is going to be ready for the new academic year. Teachers don’t have time to review math concepts your child has already learned and they will be building on these so ensure that your child has a solid math foundation. If you think they may have gaps in their knowledge base, consider getting a tutor in to prepare them and bolster their confidence.
Socialization
Plan a play date, a sleep over or a back to school party with new classmates and old friends so that your child makes friends before the new school year starts. Having friends in class will help to alleviate some of the back to school anxiety and will also improve confidence.
