5 Summer Strategies for Back-to-School Success

 

Most kids rank summer as their #1 season. Swimming, later bedtimes, fireworks on the 4th, trips to fun places, and best of all — NO SCHOOL! But as we know, all good things must come to an end. When summer does end, you can know that you did your best to make back-to-school a success.

I was that kid who was always ready to go back to school. I truly loved learning, but I think the reasons I loved that time of year as a child was that my mom created a kind of “holiday” feel during August. She would help us prepare for each back to school season. My brother, sister, and I each got a separate shopping day where we got to buy our new school supplies, new shoes, and new clothes. However, the best part was that we had Mom all to ourselves that day. 

Parents play a crucial role in back to school success. How can you make sure your kids are ready to go?

Relax the schedule, but don’t toss it.

Students of all ages need a break from the faster-paced school year schedule. However, going from crazy busy to no expectations or responsibilities is not a great idea either. What this looks like will depend on the age and needs of the child.  Younger students may need specific times of day set aside for outside play, reading, or games. Older students may need some manageable wake-up times so that they do not sleep until the afternoon! Keep plenty of time free of scheduled activities. It is important for kids to get bored. When kids cannot default to screen time, they have to begin to problem-solve about what to do next. This is when the creativity begins to emerge in children.

Keep learning alive!

Some kids are eager learners. Others are content to float along during the summer, taking in whatever information or opportunities happen their way. Parents can play a key role in keeping learning in the forefront during the summer months. Skip the formal skill workbooks. Kids get too much of that during the school months. Instead, look for ways to encourage authentic learning.

Be sneaky. Make “beautiful junk” available for your elementary aged children. These are simply items that you have around the house that can be used to create. (toilet paper rolls, buttons, glue, paint, fabric, paper plates, etc.) Give your child a creating space and permission to make a mess.

Set aside a routine of reading a book together at a specific time of day during the summer.

Journal or blog with your kids. Require each family member to write or draw about summer activities. This is a great way for your family to look back at all the fun you had during the summer.

Learn alongside your child. What is your child interested in or curious about? Look for ways to explore his interests together.

Limit screen time.

There is so much research pointing to the importance of monitored screen time for kids. We cannot deny that too much time in front of a screen is detrimental to the social, emotional and cognitive development of kids. While some parents have given up and made the decision not to fight the issue, others have gone to the other end of the spectrum and forbid screen time altogether. There is no formula for what is best for your child. I suggest having a conversation with your child or teen. Talk about it. You, as the parent, have the final say on time allotment, but when you involve your child, he will feel heard and may be more cooperative with the decisions that are made.

Speak positively about your child’s school experience.

You have a critical role to play in your child’s feelings about school. Some parents are baffled by their child’s lack of interest in school or their lack of respect for their teachers. This may just be normal development during certain phases of a child’s life, but it is important for us to make sure we are not contributing to the negative feelings being expressed.

Some parents choose to talk openly to their children or on social media about their dissatisfaction with their child’s school or teachers. For the child’s sake, I believe it is important for parents to be proactive and reach out to the teachers and administration to resolve any issues their child is having. Speaking negatively about your child’s teacher to him or to others without helping him solve the issue at hand reinforces his lack of interest or motivation to be at school.  Make every effort to help bridge the gap between school and home. Your child will benefit the most.

Purchase special back-to-school items throughout the summer that your child can look forward to using at school.

Not all students enjoy buying school supplies, but many do! Although it is easy to fall into the marketing trap of back-to-school must-haves, your child may just be motivated to get started a little easier if he has some “extras” that are not necessarily required but would be fun to take to school. For instance, some age-groups like to have locker decorations or organizational tools. Some will be happy with just an extra notebook that isn’t the plain one required for a class. Or maybe a new backpack or lunch box will do the trick. If you look for these things all summer, it might keep the excitement for school alive a bit easier. Click here for a list of some of my favorite back-to-school fun stuff!

You have a great opportunity to help your child get off on the right foot for school. These five summer strategies are simple ways to make back-to-school a success.

Which strategies will you prioritize this summer?

 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you.

Colossians 3:15