The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Written by Katy Tierney

Yes, I said it. Back to school is absolutely the most wonderful time of the year.

The excitement and joy of new beginnings is here. Whatever may have happened in the years past, know this is a clean slate for you and your child. Starting the school year can be a success or an epic fail. Parents, not to put all the pressure on you, but a successful start for your child is mainly in your hands.

It’s important to start getting back into your school routines at the very beginning of August. (That’s now!) Start with back to school bedtimes and wake your kids up or set alarms for their school year wake up time. (Avoid hitting snooze too many times.) Think about outfits for the first week of school, bonus points if your child lays them out and has them ready to go.

We, as parents, make going back to school as exciting or as dreadful as we want, and how we treat this transition will affect our children.

Your child will be nervous, that’s normal. You may be anxious about your kids' new chapter or aggravated at getting your kids back into a routine, but building up the excitement and being prepared is the key to a great start. ›› Go school supply shopping early. ›› Countdown the days to back to school. Make a fun countdown calendar! ›› Attend your school’s back to school bash. ›› Give your child some choice on bedtime and wake up time. (My child is a snoozer. We struggle big time in the morning, especially on Mondays. So we set her alarm a little early so she’s not rushed in the mornings.) ›› Do one special thing before school starts back. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Have a dinner date or lunch date with your child. ›› Celebrate the completion of the first week. (We always go to Orange Leaf on the first Friday of the new school year.) ›› If your child packs their lunch, let them help and choose what they want to eat. Have them participate in the grocery shopping for their lunch items. ›› If you are rushed in the morning, skip breakfast. Most schools in Owensboro and Daviess County offer free breakfast. As a teacher, my favorite time with my students is in the morning when they come early and we all eat our breakfast together. It gives us time to start our day and not feel rushed. Do what is best for your student and your family. ›› If your child is anything like my daughter, Harper, they need to know their breakfast and lunch choices each day to be prepared. Ask for the school lunch menu or search it on the district website. ›› Join your child's school Facebook page, join class Dojo or Seesaw. Stay in the loop and communicate the best you can with your child's teacher. (But as a teacher, I recommend - don’t over do it though!)

The list for us to be successful and start our school year off great can be daunting and no one wants to be overwhelmed, especially when it comes to our kids’ education. If we all do our best to be prepared and try to eliminate as many unknowns for ourselves and our children, then their school year will start off with a BANG and hopefully remain that way for the rest of the school year. Think of the school year in small chunks. Don’t go crazy. Take it week by week or day by day and before you know it, sweet summertime will be back around. OP

KATY TIERNEY is a third grade teacher at Estes Elementary. She and her husband, Daniel, have two daughters, Harper & Tilly. Her large, extended family and career always keep her on the move. She loves reading with her daughters and spending all the time she can with her family and friends.