Tips to Start Your Kids Off on the Right Foot This School Year

story by KIMBERLY BLAKER

The mark of a new school is often anticipated with a mix of emotions for kids and parents alike, ranging from exhilaration to anxiety. Kids are excited to wear their new clothes, see their classmates, and participate in extracurricular activities. Parents are proud to see their kids reach another milestone and look forward to exciting new experiences for their growing child.

Get your kids off to a good start and keep them on course with these tips.

Kids need their Zs
Sufficient sleep is essential to proper brain function. When kids are deprived of sleep, it can interfere with their memory, attention, and ability to learn. Insufficient sleep can also adversely affect health. It contributes to type 2 diabetes in children and teens.

Mental health is also affected by sleep. Kids who don’t get enough quality sleep are at risk for mood swings, anxiety, hyperactivity, and aggressive behavior.

Unfortunately, because teens’ circadian rhythm keeps them alert later at night, early school start times don’t help. But getting plenty of sleep is crucial. Kids ages 6 to 12 need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night, and teens require 8 to 10.
To help your kids fall asleep better, set a curfew and regular bedtime for school nights accordingly. On weekends, kids want to stay up later. Just try not to let their weekend sleep patterns veer too far from their weeknight routine.
Otherwise, it’ll be a challenge to get them back on track. Also:
• Remove media from bedrooms at night.
• Set a curfew of 2 – 3 hours before bed for caffeine.
• Keep bedroom temperatures 3 degrees cooler at night than during the daytime.
• Make sure your kids have plenty of blankets.
• Have your child take a hot bath before bed.
• Have kids eat a light, high carbohydrate snack before bed such as fruit or white grains.

Balance is essential
During the school year, kids have a lot on their plate. In addition to school, they have family, friends, homework, chores, extracurricular activities, and perhaps a part-time job.
But balance is essential to your child’s well-being. The reason such imbalance sometimes develops is that parents see other families involved in so many extracurricular activities. As a result, parents think they’re not doing their job if their kids aren’t always on the go. Because kids want to make their parents happy and proud of them, kids often don’t speak up when they feel overwhelmed.

Structured activities do provide valuable benefits to kids. Still, they need free time to play and socialize as well. When kids lack balance in their lives, it can cause them stress and interfere with their ability to sleep and optimal functioning. It can also affect their mental wellness.

Get academic help
If your child has struggled academically in the past or grades begin to suffer, your kid may need help. Any of the above issues, among other things, can lead to academic problems.
Some kids struggle with retaining information, understanding concepts, or have a different learning style. Also, learning disabilities can affect kids of all intelligence levels and cause academic challenges.

If your child is struggling in one or more subjects, ask your child’s teachers about their observations. Then talk to the school principal. Public schools are required to provide an assessment upon request. If your child attends a private school that doesn’t offer assessments, you can request it through your public school district.

Whatever the reason for your child’s school difficulties, there are ways to help. First, establish a regular homework time. Also, set up a quiet, distraction-free area as a homework station and furnish it with a desk or comfortable chair. Kids’ rooms provide too many distractions. Plus the ability to close their door can hide that they’re not on task.

Also, consider a tutor. Some schools offer free one-on-one or afterschool group tutoring. Another option is to ask a trusted family member, neighbor, or friend who might be interested in helping. You can find free online video tutorials at KhanAcademy.org as well.