A Life Full of Gratitude ~ A Heart Full of Gratitude: Back to School

As the new school year approaches, a number of articles have come across my email about getting your kids ready for the year ahead. As I read them, I put my own list together from some of what I read and from experience as an educator.

Organize School Systems Together
In order for children to be successful, they need to learn some of the basics of organization. When my kids were in elementary this seemed much easier and an agenda was brought home everyday listing important school events or homework. But as Jaret enters Junior High, we are entering a new world and beginning to learn what some of these new organizational structures will look like. From using binders that he carries from class to class to use of his own computer, it will be important to help him learn to use google calendar to help track rather than the agenda that he was so used to in elementary. But whatever organizational systems are put in place, it is important to include your child in them to help them become independent.

Create a Home Staging Area
I have to admit, this one is a favourite for me. I think it might be due to my nature of liking a place for everything and because it works so well for helping kids to know the routines. I am sometimes surprised when I talk to parents who are surprised at the simplicity of this and who have not put this into practice in their own homes. When Jaret and Kirra get home at the end of each day, they have clear expectations to the routine of where everything goes - from the backpack being unloaded and agenda ready to sign on the counter to their lunch kits unpacked and some repacking for the next day beginning. It is healthy for children to be part of the process so that they become a little less dependent on you doing everything.

School Supplies Well Stocked
When the kids have homework to do, it is important that all necessary materials are readily available to them. So, having pencils sharpened and erasers tucked away where they know where to find them among the crayons, markers, glue, scissors, pencil sharpener and paper is helpful for everyone; including me so I don't have to stop what I am doing to find it for them but can remind them where it is to get it themselves.

Calendar
Although perhaps a good idea, this is not something we have implemented in the way that some families have a calendar up in a common area. Instead, important dates were written in their agenda ahead of time so they knew when there was no school or when dance or baseball practice was. Helping your children to know upcoming events helps them to better plan.

A calendar of dates is important but so is an agenda of a basic outline for the day. From when Jaret was really little, he would want to know what we were doing today. And then what. And what after that. And what about tomorrow. Routine for him has always been so key to success and he always appreciates what is coming next. Consistency in routines at home is important to build into life. From time for homework and where it is done, to supper expectations, to play and a regular bedtime. I guess I could have listed this last paragraph as a separate heading titled Routines.

Goal Setting
Talking to my kids about school and the new year ahead helps ease them into what they think the year might be like, from who is in their class to what they think they may learn. This is also an excellent time to begin talking about goals they hope to achieve and how they might go about achieving.

Conversation
As stated above, talking to your kids. Talking with your kids. Listening to your kids. Aside from talking about goals, speaking about character and what that looks like among their friends in times where it is easy to be a friend and times when it can be hard. Because let's face it, sometimes even when you are little, problems happen. And when problems happen among friends, it can be difficult to navigate. So it is important to talk about situations before they happen to help them be better prepared. And so that when situations like that arise, they will feel comfortable coming to talk to you because you have already been there to talk them through it in a non-judgemental way.

Speaking about various classes and discussing the successes and challenges. And having these conversations openly at the supper table so that problem solving can happen among family members or if it is important to just listen and pray, to do so.

Discussion around teachers and how we can learn to appreciate the teachers our kids have. And when our kids have a hard time appreciating them, pointing them back to reasons to show respect and that even if they disagree with their teacher, to still appreciate them for who God created them to be.

Affirm and Encourage
This is by far the most important one. Affirm and encourage your child in who they are and their identity in Christ. When you help them to know that they are loved by God as created in His image, then all the successes and failures don't define them. A poor mark on a test doesn't crush them or a great mark doesn't make them arrogant and put themselves above others. What counts and what matters is who they are in Christ. And when they are affirmed in that on a regular basis, then they can face the difficulties that life's journey has for them.

It isn't a top ten list, it is only 7 things, or 8 if you count the Routines bit above. A list of some things to think about as our kids are getting prepared for back to school. I have already been back to school for a couple of weeks now. The kids have had a great summer and with being away most of August are enjoying some down time before they start school before the long weekend. They are both looking forward to being back (a little bit) but in other ways, would like summer to last forever. And really, who could blame them?! Sometimes I would also like summer to last forever!