Many of you could not wait for it, and others felt the daily dread of its fast approach, but alas, back-to-school has arrived yet again. Those slow summer mornings with nowhere to be and warm afternoons spent by the pool splashing have now turned into hustle-and-bustle wake-ups and homework afternoons. It was glorious while it lasted, but school routines, new lessons to learn, and after school plans are in full force.
I’ve always been the mom full of back-to-school dread. The kind of dread that led to worry and anxiety over big and small things. Will my students find and make friends with others in their classroom? How will all the new transitions into a new year affect each of my children who have different needs and expectations? What after school programs are the best fit for each of their interests, talents, and goals? For me, the best solution to my back-to-school anxieties has been to be proactive and involve my children in the planning and process.
What better way to ease into a new year and new classroom than to celebrate the teacher at the beginning of the school year? Why wait for teacher appreciation in the spring, when you can show gratitude and support from the beginning? In the feature article, Start Strong: Fun Ways to Celebrate Teachers at the Beginning of the Year, the author has some simple ideas that would make a big impact on day one. On Meet the Teacher night, bring a small questionnaire asking your 2nd grade teacher about many of their likes and interests. On the first day of school, our student could arrive with their teacher’s favorite afternoon snack, just to say thank you and that they are appreciated. Or, gather some other moms and set up a clever teacher thank-you room filled with various treats, like a coffee bar and a school supplies gift table. Teachers could grab a pick-me-up throughout the day and feel appreciated this fall.
One of the biggest stresses is where and how to extend the school day in afterschool care or extracurricular activities. Does your child have a safe and supportive place to go after the school day ends, until you can pick them up after your day at the office? To help with finding the right after school fit, check out another great article, How to Choose the After-School Program That Feels Right, and discover some amazing tips like finding a place that has connection, capability, and continuity, as well as keeping in mind to balance academics with play or enrichment. Then, head on over to the After School Activities Guide, where you will find local places that offer exactly what you and your student are looking for this fall. From piano and swimming lessons to Algebra tutoring and STEM clubs, the right after school programs can be explored and researched just by starting with our guide.
Whether it was met with excitement and anticipation or dread and reluctance, back-to-school is here and ready to be taken on. From one parent to another, being proactive and appreciative in the beginning for all the great things this school year will bring will make a huge difference in the success of another school year for all our students.
