Getting Ready for School Tips and Links
In a few weeks my oldest son will enter kindergarten. Yes, East Coasters, schools in Colorado start in the middle of August! Honestly, I think he is more ready than I am. However, getting ready for this transition will be big for all of us. Five full days a week is going to be exhausting for a kid who still naps every few days. Sending my little guy off to a big school with big kids and big expectations is going to be hard... for me. All that said, I am not the expert on this subject so I headed to the internet for some help. Yikes! There is a lot of information out there.Most articles focus on one of the following areas:
Academic and social readiness
Addressing your child's fears and anxieties
Getting involved with your child's school
Advocating for your child's needs
Getting organized
I would recommend giving some thought about what your anxieties about the beginning of the school year are. Read a few articles and look for ones with concrete tips. Don't try to take on too much- it is a busy time of year! Do try to pick a few things to focus on that will make the transition go smoother for you and your children. For example, if you are someone who overbooks or misses important dates, spend some time working on your calendar. Find your school calendars and enter all the important dates for the school year. Make it a habit to put new events in your calendar as soon as you receive the email, birthday party invitation, flyer from school etc.. Then remember to review your calendar, often. Help your child create a calendar system that works for him or her.
Here are some helpful articles I found:
Ready for Kindergarten? This article about Kindergarten Readiness is from a great new website and resource- Ifnotyouwho.org. This site was developed by Early Childhood professionals and is full of great activities parents can do with their children to help them develop the skills they need to succeed in school.
This article briefly discusses many of the areas above with a week by week successful start to school plan:
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/home_school/b2shandout.aspx
In the meantime, enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
Gail
