PTA Parent: Transitioning from Summer to School

A New Start: Helping Kids Adjust from Summer to School
Educational consultant Laurie Hurley provides tips for easing the transition from summertime to school time:

Kindergarten - Fifth Grade
1. About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It's difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late.

2. If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy the supplies early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home just in case.

3. If you have a kindergartner, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or 10 minutes the day before school starts.

Middle School
1. Many sixth graders will be attending a new school for their middle school years. Oftentimes, the campus is much bigger and can be intimidating. Of course pre-teens may not admit they are nervous, but most parents are. Suggest a bike ride over to the school sometime during August just to look around. Many middle schools conduct orientations, but an extra trip without all of their peers might be worthwhile.

2. Just as in elementary school, it is important to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site.

3. If your student struggles with the basics, consider hiring a tutor for some review sessions before and during the first semester.

Laurie Hurley is an educational consultant. She can be reached at www.hometutoringbusiness.com or (888) 847-0033.