By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H.
It’s time to start preparing for a new school year. For many this is an exciting time but for others it can be a cause of anxiety. Just a little preparation can help your child make a smooth transition and have a successful school year. Here is a checklist from the search institute to help you with your planning.
Getting ready for school can be a lot of fun as long as everything doesn’t happen at the last minute! Spread out everything that needs to get done over these next few weeks of summer so that by the time school starts, you and your kids can relax and step confidently into the new school year.
Here’s your one month before school starts checklist…
- Make sure your child is properly registered for school, particularly if he or she is going to a new school.
- Ensure that your child is finishing (and finishing well) any summer homework that has been assigned.
- Schedule doctor and dental appointments. Many kids need certain immunizations before school starts. Athletes in middle and high school need an athletic checkup. Find out if your school requires certain medical forms for your child’s doctor to sign.
- Get any school supply checklists from your child’s school. (Many schools post them on their school websites.)
- Create a budget for back-to-school shopping.
- Confirm any before and after school care that your child needs during the school year so that you don’t have any surprises on the first day of school.
- Get the dates on your calendar for any back-to-school activities offered by the school. (The meet-your-teacher date, student orientation, parent orientation, and any other activities.)
Additional Resources:
Ten Tips for Back to School Success
Sources:
1. Preparing Kids for School, ParentFurther, http://www.parentfurther.com/parenting/school-success/preparing-kids.
2. School Success, ParentFurther, http://www.parentfurther.com/parenting/school-success
This handout may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). This content has been provided as a free download on ParentFurther.com SM, an online resource from Search Institute®, Minneapolis, MN; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved.
Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H., is a Human Development Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. She can be reached at 631-727-7850 ext. 330 or at kkr5@cornell.edu.