3 minute read
PARENTING
TogetherTogether COMING
Family Success Strategies for Back to School
Advertisement
By Annette Benedetti
Summer may feel like it just got into full swing, but ready or not, the back-to-school time of year is here. Transitioning from long, lazy days filled with adventure and loose sleep schedules to a more rigorous routine can be a bummer for everyone. Don’t despair, there are plenty of strategies for success available, and local parenting gurus who have been through the back-to-school rodeo more than a few times are sharing their best tips.
Transition Troubles (You’re Not Alone)
Jenni W. lives in Bend and is a mother to four children. Hers is a blended family with kids attending grades ranging from kindergarten through middle school. She even homeschools one child. “The kids also play fall sports. The first few months of school we could have eight practices per week plus games on the weekends, music lessons, play dates, birthday parties and doctor’s appointments,” she explains. “From lazy summer afternoons to scheduled activities all week long, it can be a lot to adjust to.” Over the years, Jenni’s family has developed strategies to help minimize the chaos that comes with each new school year. Thankfully, the strategies do more than just make sense out of complex schedules; they teach the whole family valuable lessons, too. “We have a few tools we use to stay organized and use [back-to-school] as a time to teach the kids about patience, flexibility and showing up for each other,” she says.
Start Early!
One of the most common pieces of advice parents get from professionals is to start early. From conversations that clarify what to expect to practicing school routines, prepping the kids in advance is a must. Lauren Seligner, a local mom of two young children, ages five and seven, starts prepping her kids a week in advance.
“With the sun up so late in the summer, it's easy to fall into a routine of staying up later. We get back on track the week before [school starts] since we know we'll be having to wake up the kids every morning.”
STRATEGIES. STRATEGIES. MORE STRATEGIES.
1. Coordinate Calendars: Use a shared Google calendar for all parents and caregivers involved. This is especially useful for blended families.
2. Dedicated E-mail: Have a dedicated e-mail that both parents can access for school and extracurricular information.
3. Practice: Practice school routines with children in advance, so they feel comfortable traveling the school route or riding the bus.
4. Get Organized: Make sure kids have a study space, backpacks and bedrooms in order before the first day.
5. Meal Prep: Pre-planning meals for the entire week makes everything easier. Try a theme for each day like “Taco Tuesdays.”
6. Assign Expectations: Make sure everyone in the family understands what the (age-appropriate) expectations are in advance. Older kids may want to wake up to an alarm and get themselves ready without a parent hovering over them. 7. Assign Chores: Talk logistics at regular family meetings. Keep kids in the loop so they understand how a household works. Kids may do their own laundry and keep their rooms clean as part of their allowance.
8. Visit the School: Connect with teachers in advance with your kids, if possible. It’s a simple way to make the unfamiliar feel familiar.
9. Embrace the Chaos: Keep your expectations realistic. Give each member of the family a little grace when it comes time to adjust.
10. End Each Day with Gratitude: Each night before bed, consider gathering to share a grateful moment. “It’s five minutes in our day where we listen to each other and remember how joyful our day was,” Jenni explains. “This has been a staple in our family since our oldest was in preschool, and even now in middle school he can usually find something to share with us.”
Killoran Counseling and Wellness
Now accepting new clients for individual and family therapy. Offering individual sessions for ages 12-35.
Parent Book Club
Kids are growing up in a different world than we did, from technology to social media to the current culture. Grow as a parent by learning new ways to communicate and connect with your teen.
LEARN MORE AT www.killorancounseling.com
2022 - 2023 SCHEDULE OUT NOW!
