August/September 2011-Tip on Avoiding Morning Meltdown!
Summer is always too short and the school year arrives way to soon...At St. Joe's, we are back into the swing of things with Back to School Night tonight and the first week of school ahead of us. Getting everyone back on track is a family task-it takes organization and staying on top of things. Below are some bullet points about staying ahead of the game and easing into the school routine a bit smoother:
1. Fill out the paperwork as soon as you get it. Otherwise, it will collect dust and on field trip day, you will be scrambling.
2. Have a designated space/drawer/bucket for all school papers. it may even help to have a separate bucket for each child. This can be a home for permission slips, fundraising, long term assignments and other sheets.
3. Mark all dates on a calendar as soon as you get them. Some people use Google or Outlook and communicate between partners/spouses when an apt. is added or deleted.
4. Create a "Get Ready the Night Before" policy. Pick clothes the night before, homework back in backpack, and gather other needed essentials for the next day.
5. Be realistic about scheduling extra-curricular activities. Have your child/adolescent choose their top one or two choices and avoid over-programming.
Hopefully, you have begun the transition for going back to school by getting back on the school bedtime and keeping them on track with school related work such as workbooks throughout the summer so homework is not going to be too much of a shock.
As always, if you have any questions or comments about transitioning into the school year, please feel free to call me at 206-329-3260 X220 or email me at [email protected].
Thanks and welcome back!
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor, MSW, LICSW
1. Fill out the paperwork as soon as you get it. Otherwise, it will collect dust and on field trip day, you will be scrambling.
2. Have a designated space/drawer/bucket for all school papers. it may even help to have a separate bucket for each child. This can be a home for permission slips, fundraising, long term assignments and other sheets.
3. Mark all dates on a calendar as soon as you get them. Some people use Google or Outlook and communicate between partners/spouses when an apt. is added or deleted.
4. Create a "Get Ready the Night Before" policy. Pick clothes the night before, homework back in backpack, and gather other needed essentials for the next day.
5. Be realistic about scheduling extra-curricular activities. Have your child/adolescent choose their top one or two choices and avoid over-programming.
Hopefully, you have begun the transition for going back to school by getting back on the school bedtime and keeping them on track with school related work such as workbooks throughout the summer so homework is not going to be too much of a shock.
As always, if you have any questions or comments about transitioning into the school year, please feel free to call me at 206-329-3260 X220 or email me at [email protected].
Thanks and welcome back!
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor, MSW, LICSW