| Going back to school after a summer of fun, without | | | | sleep 9 to 12 hours a night. If your child is having trouble |
| schedules and homework, can be a rough time in your | | | | adjusting to the sleep schedule, make sure there is a |
| child's life. In addition to the nervousness caused by | | | | bedtime routine to follow (bathe, brush teeth, use the |
| wondering whether or not he will like his new teacher | | | | restroom, change to pajamas, bedtime story, lights out). |
| and classes, there are the challenges of daily | | | | A small glass of warm milk is often just the thing for |
| schedules filled with activities and reestablishing study | | | | helping a child drift off to sleep. |
| habits. Here are some ideas to make the transition go | | | | Homework already! Bookstores and online book |
| more smoothly. | | | | vendors have workbooks available which help prepare |
| "Back to School" shopping. Develop a "Back to School" | | | | your child for the grade they will be starting. Have your |
| shopping list with your child. Have them write out the | | | | child work through one or more of these workbooks |
| list. You may wish to include clothing items or a | | | | just to get them back into the mode of doing |
| computer along with school supplies. Most schools | | | | homework. It also gives him a chance to practice the |
| have school supply lists available for each classroom. | | | | highly perishable skills he spent so much time learning |
| The lists are often in the local stores or you can pick | | | | last year. In the end, your child will feel better prepared |
| up a copy at the school. Some states offer a few | | | | when he walks into the classroom and, as a result, he |
| "tax free" days specifically for school supplies. If your | | | | is more likely to be successful. |
| area does so, you will want to time your shopping trip | | | | Decorate and embellish. As a craft project, let your |
| to take advantage of the savings. Have your child go | | | | child decorate his school notebooks. Have stickers, |
| with you to do "Back to School" shopping. Have your | | | | markers, colorful paper, crayons, and other craft items |
| child read from the list and then check off each item | | | | available. Encourage your child to personalize their |
| as it is added to your cart. | | | | school supplies. Not only will your child enjoy the |
| Set back the clock. Usually summer schedules are | | | | process and create something they like to look at, they |
| more relaxed than school schedules. Maybe you | | | | will also be able to easily spot their items. |
| permit your child to stay up later and sleep later during | | | | Set the schedule. In the final week prior to the start of |
| the summer. If so, start to adjust their schedule back to | | | | school, discuss schedules with your child. Have him |
| school times at least a week prior to the beginning of | | | | write out a daily schedule and post it in his room. Be |
| school. Bedtime can be set a half an hour earlier every | | | | sure to include wake-up and bedtimes, study time, |
| couple of days until the schedule is back to school | | | | meal times, hygiene times, leave the house for school |
| bedtimes. Wake-up time can also be adjusted. Sleep is | | | | time, and extracurricular activity times. |
| very important to growing children. Most growth | | | | Make the transition between summer vacation and |
| happens during sleep. Experts recommend children | | | | school easier for everyone. |