Article for mom-e-news

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Pub. in August 2007 newsletter of mom-e-news

Ready or Not…Here Comes School
By Caroline Fernandez

Start Reading
Reading to your child promotes focus & listening skills which are essential to classroom behaviour. Ask simple questions about the story, using the vocabulary contained in the book, to encourage conversation.

Take School for a Test Drive
Go play in the school’s yard to acquaint your child with the school’s environment. Buy school supplies together to empower your child in the preparation component of school. Unless you know the school supply list, only buy essentials for the first few days as the teacher will usually send home a list of what exactly is required and in what quantity. Test drive the lunch box, food containers and snack bags to ensure your child can open his containers all by him/herself.

Promote Healthy Eating
A friend once confided that…up to kindergarten; her child had eaten a hot lunch everyday of his life and that he was having trouble converting to a sandwich. Prepare for school by incorporating “school foods” into your weekly menus. Cookies and sugary items are frowned upon in school and it is best to wean your child off their “treat snack” during school hours. Even if your child will continue to eat lunch at home please don’t forget the importance of a healthy breakfast to start the day with energy and balance. What packs well with no refrigeration?...Granola bars, boxes of raisins, cut veggies (carrots, cucumbers, celery), cut fruit (add lemon juice to apple slices to prevent browning), dry cereal, pretzels, crackers, muffins. Keep all nut based products at home.

Engage in Fitness
Your child will be active, both mentally and physically, while at school. Engaging in physical activity is a must for endurance and energy. Even though the first week of school will be busy, schedule in some active play or a formal fitness class for your child. Even children feel anxiety and physical activity is a proven remedy for dealing with stress.

Healthy Living
Promote good health by scheduling medical/dental check-ups shortly before school. Also, get in the habit of good sleep routines. Start the “school day” routine a week in advance so that your child will know what to expect (i.e. rise, bathroom, breakfast, dress) of the morning home routine.

Share
Borrow school themed books from the library. Talk openly and casually about school at meal times. Encourage play dates with neighbourhood children that will also attend school. From the parent perspective; write your experience in a journal, on your blog or in an open-letter to your child on their 18th birthday.

School is a part of growing…for both parent and child.