Photo Credit: peachstatefcublog.org/
Summer is coming to a close. You can take a deep breath. You made it through another summer with your kiddos at home all day, every day. You should just go get yourself some Ben and Jerry's, and kick back and relax for a bit. But as soon as you hit the bottom of the carton, it's time to help your children have a great school year! We want to give you 5 tips of what you can do at home to help give your kids a great school year.
1 - Get Them a Great Breakfast
This is usually a tip that parents and students hear a few days before taking a standardized test, but if you teach your children how to eat a healthy breakfast every morning, there are some pretty awesome results for them overall. According to Elle Paula at SFGate, these include better grades, better concentration in class, and maintaining a healthy weight.
2 - Create a Work Space for School Work
Creating an established work space for your children will help them to get and stay focused on their school work and projects for a certain amount of time. Try to help them find a place that is far away from the TV, Xbox, or board games. This will help them to not only get their homework done, but to actually learn something (I know, crazy talk, right?).
3 - Give Them Fun Breaks
While we want for all of your children to have a lot of time to study, play time is just as important. Ideally, if you can, let them have a snack or play outside for 10 minutes every 45 - 90 minutes, they will be able to actually finish their work without going clinically insane (semo.edu). You don't necessarily need to have anything planned, but try not to let them do anything that is too involved, otherwise those breaks will turn into a debate on getting back to school work.
4 - Go Through Old School Work Regularly
While we say that teachers don't give busy work to their students, there are probably some busy work items that can be tossed/recycled every month or so. Of course, you'll want to do this with your children there, especially if they are older students. Oftentimes, they will need their work through the whole school year to get ready for finals. Of course, it is always nice to keep the documents, pictures, and projects that your child kicked some major butt on. Just don't get crazy.
5 - Make time for Family Time
Of all the things that you do this year, this one will be the most important!
While this can sometimes be difficult to invest significant time into, it is probably the most important thing that you can do this year and for every year that your children are still at home. Whether it be dinner time or a time before bed, family time has major benefits. The Family Focus Blog says that, at least in relation to school, there will be an improved academic performance. But it is not limited just to that! Family time will help you to develop parenting skills. There will be less behavioral problems, less violence, a lower chance of drug abuse, and most importantly an improved family bond.
While this can sometimes be difficult to invest significant time into, it is probably the most important thing that you can do this year and for every year that your children are still at home. Whether it be dinner time or a time before bed, family time has major benefits. The Family Focus Blog says that, at least in relation to school, there will be an improved academic performance. But it is not limited just to that! Family time will help you to develop parenting skills. There will be less behavioral problems, less violence, a lower chance of drug abuse, and most importantly an improved family bond.
Whether this is your first child in school, or you are an experienced veteran, try to implement a few of these, and I think you'll have an excellent school year!