Need of the hour -66
-J.P.Bharathi
Back to the school
Young children benefit greatly from having a predictable routine, Transitional periods, like the one from unstructured summer fun back to the school year, can prove to be tricky for some children. Take a look at these helpful tips and tools for making sure your little one’s back-to-school transition goes smoothly
Establish a “Goodbye! Hello!” ritual. Rituals are a wonderful way to help children through transitions in life. Your family can say “goodbye” to summer with an end-of-summer picnic, a splash party in the backyard with neighbors or by creating a banner that bids farewell to summer. And when it comes time to go back to school, you can say “hello” to the new school year by scheduling a special breakfast to celebrate the big day with friends.
Talk about the return to school with delight. A couple of weeks before the new school year starts. remind your child that they will be seeing all their school friends again soon. If you know who their teacher will be, you can start talking with them about the new teacher and anticipating aloud all the fun! things they will do in school this year.
Get sleep and healthy meals back on track. Establishing a consistent night time routine and meal schedule filled with healthy foods a week before school starts will get your child’s sleep rhythms back on track. A well-rested, well-fed child will be happier and better adjusted for the back-to-school transition.
Start a paper chain. Starting in the final days of summer, cut out strips of construction paper about an inch wide and six inches long, with a link for every day through the first month of school Encourage your child to draw a little picture of something they loved about their day on one of the strips and add it to the chain each night. At the end of the month, you will have a long, colorful chain you can hang in your child’s room.
Choose special reads. Start reading some back to school-themed books to your child the week bofore school starts. Some of my favorites are This School Year Will Be the Best!, my teacher welcomes me with a smile,.with a beautiful feel, a shake hand and Namaste.
It’s important to be sensitive to the fact that your child may feel anxiety about the change in their routine. Just remember that young children thrive on predictability and preparation, and that your support can make all the difference in the world for them.
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