Ways to Get Your Child Ready to Go Back to School (guest post by Krista Harper)

Back to school! That time of year that students dread that can be surprisingly fun as they get to see the familiar faces they missed over the summer.
The change can be a shock to everyone’s system. However, there are steps you can take to ease the transition back to school.

Get Good Sleep
Inadequate sleep hampers anyone’s ability to learn – let alone that of children who need to learn intensively.
A lot of people don’t realize that children need 10 hours of sleep a night.
Encourage good sleep and set a good example. Don’t use electronic devices in your bedroom, and have your children shut theirs off at bedtime.
You may want to invest in blackout drapes if their bedrooms get a lot of sun. Getting up with the roosters may not be the healthiest thing for your children.

Work With Your Child to Relieve Stress
Many children get anxious before going back to school, but you can work with them, so they learn techniques to manage this stress.
Train them in self-talk techniques. This will help them become less anxious.Take your child to the school grounds before the first day of school, so they can ease back into the environment. You can visit the classroom or playground.
Schedule a play date with some of his or her classmates. This will help your child ease back into school and look forward to seeing friends.

Take Part in Orientations
This is an extremely important step if your student is new to a school. Just knowing how to get around the building will help relieve anxiety.
And your child will get to meet his or her teacher, see the classroom, and get a feel for what the school year will entail.

Purchase School Supplies
This is one back to school activity that many children actually enjoy. Getting new school supplies!
Take advantage of the many sales to stock up for what your children will need to take with them to school and what they will need to do their homework.
Buy a new backpack and fill it with the items needed for school as you buy them.
Most schools have a list of supplies the children should have, so be sure to print that out and bring it before you go shopping. (Some large stores may have the lists for the major schools in your area.)
And don't forget to label major items like backpacks and lunchboxes, so they won’t get lost at school.

​Set Up a Workspace at Home
Your child should have an inviting place to work at that he or she can use efficiently. The days of doing homework sprawled out on a bed are long gone!
A younger child may want to be near you, so consider a section of the kitchen table or part of the family room.
Older children are more likely to want privacy, so set them up in an office or bedroom with plenty of lighting and a comfy chair.

Krista Harper is a freelance writer from Southern California and mother of two adorable young kids. She regularly covers lifestyle, beauty, and health related topics. Kritsa is always looking for ways to better herself and has a passion for helping families create balance and happiness in their lives.