photo credit: dkaz

School bells will be ringing soon! Your kids are probably feeling some place between dread and delight at the thought. They miss their friends and the activity, but the idea of sitting for hours a day sounds boring, right?

Here are four big areas to consider in preparing them to return:

• Mental Preparation- Get out the flashcards for a quick review of letters, sounds and basic vocabulary for younger children. Have older kids read magazines/newspapers articles and write the main ideas. Keep it fun by using daily experiences for math review.
• Physical - If they have been staying up later than usual, make bedtime at least 30 minutes earlier. If they plan to take lunches, let them write lists of food they'd like to take.
• Social - Let the kids phone or email a friend or two, to reestablish contact.
• Emotional - Some anxiety may be lessened by driving by the school a day or two before it opens. A quick hello to the office staff might help calm some jitters on your part, as well as the kids.

Going back to school is a big deal. Just remember how it was for you and that will make you more sensitive to your kids. Here's to a smooth beginning!

The Schoolmarm