As our children settle into school, there are a number of ways in which we can help them to be successful through what we do every day to both ease the home/school transfer, and provide a well-ordered routine and smooth running home environment for children. Here are some of the ways we can do this before school:
- Wake your child in plenty of time to get up, get dressed and have breakfast without rushing and worrying about the time. If your child is a bit of a daydreamer, they may need more support in not becoming distracted and drifting off to play or watch TV before they are ready. It is a good idea to say that no TV or playing can happen until they are dressed for school and have had breakfast.
- Make sure your child has a good breakfast. Research indicates that children who have had a good breakfast are more alert, able to concentrate for longer periods of time, and better able to cope with their school work. Sitting down together with your child to have breakfast can help them to eat. Cereal, toast or some kind of protein such as egg or bacon will set your child up to make the most of their morning at school.
- Make sure that your child has a long drink before they go to school and include a bottle of water or fruit juice in their bag. Research shows that dehydration is a major cause of lack of attention and concentration, and the brain functions less well as the body dehydrates. It is important that children drink regularly.
- Leave for school in plenty of time so there is no rush and therefore no anxiety or apprehension. When children are late for school, they miss out on the beginning of the day and often on the explanations for the first task of the day. It will take them longer to settle down and understand what to do. It also means they may have to walk into a room of children who are already settled and organized, which is difficult and sometimes causes a great deal of stress.
- Have a board in the kitchen or by the front door to remind yourself of anything special that your child has to bring into school.
- If your child has a packed lunch, then make sure you make a healthy meal which has a mixture of mainly carbohydrate and protein and some fat to give maximum energy to revitalize your child in the middle of what is a long day. Don’t give them a huge amount (the same amount as you might eat), as this can be overwhelming and mean they can’t face eating any of it. Try to include some fruit as well as a chocolate or cereal bar treat. Make sure they have plenty to drink, water as well as fruit juice.
- Make sure that your child is dressed in a way which will keep them warm, cool or dry as the weather demands.
- If possible, try to have a five-minute sit down with your child before leaving the house, perhaps watching TV or reading a book, or having them reading to you to calm them down, and have a cuddle before the beginning of the school day.
- Walk to school if possible. A walk at the beginning of the day can help children to dispel their early morning energy and arrive at school having had some fresh air and exercise and ready to sit down to work. It is quite good for parents, too! It also avoids cluttering up school streets with too many cars proving a danger to children.
Tags: Children and School