by Dr. Wolfe
It’s that time of the year again. Everyone’s wearing new clothes and carrying organized backpacks and brand new school supplies. Some are even excited to go to school and see friends and meet teachers.
Then comes the inevitable moment where the newness wears off and school doesn’t look quite as fun or exciting.
“I can’t wake up that early!”
“How am I going to handle all this homework?”
“Nobody wants to sit with me at lunch.”
It doesn’t have to go downhill from here! This school year is brand new and there are ways to help your child make it a great one. I originally started out writing a brand new list of ways to do so, but as I was writing it, I realized that I’ve already written posts that cover most of my thoughts in a more in-depth manner. So I decided to round up all my school-related posts so far and post them here. Don’t forget to click on the links to get more information about each of these. Several of these are older posts from when I originally started this blog, so most of you probably haven’t seen them yet.
Sleep is non-negotiable for creating a good school year! If you want to learn some strategies to help your kids sleep better, then read about how teens (and all ages) can get more, and better sleep.
Does your child get discouraged or give up easily? Are they unwilling to try things they might fail at? These attitudes are common, and they can make school stressful and difficult for kids. Learn the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, and then help them develop a growth mindset toward learning.
Some kids struggle with school even when they try really hard. If you are wondering if your child may have a learning disorder, don’t wait to have them evaluated. Similarly, ADHD can make school very difficult for some kids. If you’re wondering if your child has ADHD, check out these red flags and consider having them evaluated. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, there are ways to make a big difference in their attention and behavior.
School can lead to quite a bit of stress and worry. If your child is overly anxious about school, there are ways you can help them.
Life gets busy during the school year. Make sure your child still has time for unstructured, creative play. If there’s not enough time for this, consider cutting back on some activities or rearranging your child’s schedule in a way that they have time to play.
If your child frequently forgets to do their homework or chores, you may need a new strategy so that you aren’t constantly nagging or fighting. Consider creating a behavior chart or using the Chore Monster app to ensure your child does their homework, makes their lunch, and completes other school-related tasks.
It’s tempting to let school take over every conversation with your child, especially if you’re worried about their grades. Don’t make school or homework become more important than your relationship with your child. Try to create an emotionally safe atmosphere at home so your child feel like they can come and talk to you about their problems.
I hope the school year is off to a great start for all of you!
