Are your kids ready for school? Long summer days, irregular sleep schedules and family vacations are quickly coming to a close. With school just days away, it’s an important time for parents to help their children prepare for the back-to-school transition. “Parents who prepare and plan now will really help their kids get a ‘leg up’ and improve their child’s success in the coming school year,” said Jody Shaskey-Setright, clinical director of Counseling Services for Lutheran Social Service. “Planning now will also help reduce stress and burnout for all members of the family.” Shaskey-Setright offers the following tips for parents. o Get back into a routine. Start getting children to bed early and at a regular time each evening. Make sure they get at least eight hours of rest. o Eat healthy. Get your child off to a good start in the morning with a healthy breakfast, and stock up on nutritious snacks for school. o Set a time for homework early in the school year to establish healthy study patterns and avoid homework mishaps. o Be involved at school. Attend open houses and meet your child’s teachers. Know their expectations so you can help your child be successful. o Set boundaries on activities and try not to over-schedule. Pick one or two activities for each person to be involved in and make sure that everyone has some down time. o Eat dinner together. According to the archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, families who eat meals together are mentally and emotionally stronger. The evening meal is a great time to share happenings and stay connected. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota offers child, individual, couples’ and family counseling by licensed mental health counselors. For more information, please contact Lutheran Social Service at (888) 881-8261. For more information visit www.lssmn.org.
