Tips for a Successful School Year

Do you have any tips for making this school year a successful one for our family? -- Want Help
Answer: Through the years, we have given you our tips for getting your children off to a flying start before the new school year even begins. Here is our latest list of ABC's to make this year a great one. Try to implement the ones that will really make a difference in your family.
A -- Approach the new school year with enthusiasm, and your children will share your enthusiasm.
B -- Buy the necessary supplies suggested by the school.
C -- Create a routine for getting out of the house efficiently every morning.
D -- Determine how school lunches will be handled.
E -- Establish how children will get to and from school.
F -- Find places for your children to store their backpacks and school work.
G -- Get an appropriately-sized backpack for each child.
H -- Hold a family discussion now on handling homework.
I -- Impress on your children the need to avoid dangerous situations going to and coming from school.
J -- Join the parent-teacher organization at your children's school.
K -- Keep a regular school schedule for a few days before school to wean children away from the lazy days of summer.
L -- Label all your children's jackets, lunchboxes and backpacks.
M -- Make a schedule showing the times of all activities away from school.
N -- Never miss any orientation meetings for new schools.
O -- Organize any needed after-school care.
P -- Put limits now on the amount of time your children will spend on TV and other electronic activities during the school year.
Q -- Question your children about the short- and long-term goals that they have for the coming year.
R -- Reserve time for exercise in your children's daily schedules.
S -- Study all the materials that the school sends to you before the first day.
T -- Talk with your children about the dangers of drugs, including inhalants.
U -- Use the time before school starts to stress how much you value education.
V -- Visit doctors and dentists to ensure your children are in good health.
W -- Watch the number of activities that your children will be undertaking.
X -- X is often an unknown ingredient. It's the extra-special things that you are doing now to ensure that this will be a great school year.
Y -- Yield time in every preschool discussion for your children's input.
Z -- Zip up all the preparation for school with love, as love gives zest to life.
Once school has begun, we have five tips that will help make the year a successful one:
1. Look at your children's school work each day, whether it is a picture drawn by a first-grader or a paper written by a high-school sophomore.
2. Talk about each school day with your children and share also what your day was like.
3. Praise them for real accomplishments and efforts. Meaningless praise does not build children's self-esteem.
4. Be supportive of your children's teachers and schools. Always consider yourself a partner of their teachers -- not an adversary.
5. Request conferences with teachers and counselors when trouble begins to appear. Don't wait for a full-blown problem to occur.