Five Tips for a Better Back-to-School Season

Make the transition back to the classroom smoother for the whole family with these five simple tips.

1. Start watching the clock. Over the summer, strict bedtimes and wake up times don’t seem as important, and it’s easy to let the rules slide a little bit. However, the problem with sleeping in or staying up is that it can wreak havoc on sleeping patterns, making kids tired in class and pokey in the mornings. Start using alarm clocks and implementing bedtimes—for the whole family.

2. Eat healthy meals, regularly. During the school year, eating a healthy breakfast before heading off to school requires a reliable morning routine. Kids still need the energy that breakfast gives to be mentally alert all day long. Growing bodies can become dependent on set meal schedules during the school year, and it’s important to maintain set meal times to keep brains functioning optimally. Regular meal times mean that when students are in school in the fall, they are focused on the teacher, not on their growling bellies.

3. Get ready the night before. Getting ready for school in the morning can turn your normally happy house into a mad house. There are usually last-minute scrambles to find the needed supplies. Binders, running shoes, or lunch bags, locating a needed item when there’s a time crunch can be hectic and stressful.De-stress the morning routine by organizing the night before. Select clothing, prepare lunches, and bring sports equipment and supplies to the front door the night before to make the morning routine run much smoother.

4. Use a calendar. Throughout the school year, students use an agenda to stay on top of homework and assignments. But a wall calendar that keeps track of activities is also a helpful way for them to stay organized at home. Mark down play dates, swimming lessons, and soccer practice so that no important activity is forgotten and keeps children in the habit or organizing their time—in and out of the classroom.

5. Read at night. One of the simplest (and most enjoyable) ways to keep the brain active and wind down for the night is by reading. Whether its comic books, magazines, or novels, reading every day helps to maintain active learning and keeps young minds geared up to learn.

Oxford Learning provides supplemental education services across North America. It offers programs for young people from preschool through university, and its cognitive approach goes beyond tutoring to ignite a lifelong love of learning. Find out more at http://www.OxfordLearning.com.