Not only is the beginning of the school year an adjustment for children and teens, but parents are also faced with the challenge of adjusting their daily routine. To make the transition easier for everybody...here are a few tips on preparation for the beginning of the school year.

PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Begin the school year with a trip to visit your child's preschool, especially if this is the first year your child will be attending school. Make sure to call the facility ahead of time to schedule your visit. Take your child with you and let him/her interact with the other children to make sure they integrate well in the classroom. This will not only settle your nerves about the quality of the classroom, but will allow your child to meet the other children and have a few friends before their first official day of class.

KINDERGARTEN
"Will I have any friends?" Children worry about the unknown and want friends. Play kindergarten at home! The parent can be the pretend teacher and your child the pretend student. Read stories, work puzzles, cut with scissors, and adk the routine questions like "What is your name?" - "Address?" - "Phone number?", etc. After your child has attended real school a few days, play kindergarten again, but this time let the child be the teacher. This is a great way to see the "teacher" in action.

1ST GRADE AND BEYOND
Make sure to observe consistent bedtimes before school starts and especially the first few weeks of school - without exception! Children and teens really do like routines that give structure to their lives. Bedtime routines that are the same most days will help children adjust to change. Make sure to keep things calm for at least one hour before bedtime. This includes calming entertainment, carefully avoiding loud and busy programs on televition. A bath for younger children is a calming part of any bedtime routine, followed by reading a book, a hug, a kiss goodnight, and an "I love you"! Older children and teens can also benefit from such a routine.

DONT FORGET!
Have dinner together as a family as often as possible. Dinner should happen near the same time each day with the television off. This family time offers an opportunity to discuss the day and plan for tomorrow. Children and teens alike will learn table manners, communication skills, and will be reassured that their family is supportive of them and their goals.


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