Getting ready to help your kids go back to school and want ways to ensure they are successful in the classroom? Really it doesn’t take much. Giving them a solid foundation at home will give them an educational boost even before they get into the academic building! Let’s explore ways to help your children succeed even from home.
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Of course I had to do a post about school, so many of my friends are teachers and I watched them post pictures of their classrooms, prepped and ready for the first day. If you have school aged children then they’ve been back for a few weeks now (depending where you live). We’re still a few years away from the big yellow school bus but I know the time will come soon!
It can be a challenging time of year. September is crazy in the world of education. Teachers are establishing routines, kids are getting settled in and the dreaded packed lunch has returned. The next 6 weeks fly by like they are the days of summer you are trying to hold on to. It’s an important time of year though.
Did you know on average an elementary aged student will lose 1-2 reading levels over the summer? If that made you panic, don’t! This is normal and to be expected! Teachers spend the first few weeks assessing students and preparing plans for them and within a few months they are back on track. Yep most teachers are like superheroes in that department.
Being Successful in the Classroom Starts With You
While many teachers are superheroes, to give your kid a leg up and help them really succeed, it starts at home. Building a Christian home will give your children the chance to go into a classroom with the foundation and confidence of God. They leave a place of love knowing that when they return at the end of the day, they go back to that place of love and acceptance.
When we arm our children with the tools to be successful, simple things that can be part of your everyday routine, it will help prepare kids for their days in the education system.
These are some things that can help your child be prepared for back to school and be successful in the classroom!
Establish Home Routine
You’ve heard this before and I’m telling you it’s true, kids need a routine they can rely on. They take comfort in knowing what to expect. Most classrooms will have a routine but it’s important to continue this at home.
Simple things like putting backpacks where they belong. Emptying lunch bags (I hated this as a kid!). Pulling out any notes or agenda that parents need to sign. Eating a snack. Maybe some outdoor time. Choosing clothes for the next school day.
These routines can help prepare your child for the next day. It reduces rush in the morning so they can head to school feeling confident and eases the early morning anxiety of “where are my school things!”
For some children this might mean having a checklist when they get home so they remember what they need to do before bed, then a checklist in the morning before they head out the door. Don’t underestimate the power of a good routine and checklist to help your child be focused and ready to succeed once they are in the classroom!
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Teach Your Children to Pray Always
My blog post about Teaching Your Children to Pray goes into more detail but helping your child pray and knowing they can talk to God whenever can help them when at school. If they know they do not go into the classroom alone, that God walks with them, it can provide comfort when they feel upset or frustrated.
School can be a place of many emotions, personalities and events. But when children practice talking to God at home they build that foundation for prayer and know who to turn to when things get messy. To help with this, you can grab the full digital download from my Etsy store.
Get a Good Night Sleep
Get a good night sleep. Get a good night sleep. Whoops did I repeat myself? Do you want me to say it again? As a teacher, one of the toughest parts of my job was dealing with students who habitually didn’t get enough sleep.
Now there are a lot of reasons for poor sleep and I am not qualified to address them (you can get a sleep consultant if you’re really struggling). But getting your kid to bed in good time will help. Set up a bedtime routine, reduce screen time and make time to connect with them. There is so much stress and anxiety in today’s world, so take a few minutes to help your child decompress before bed.
This is also a good time to read, practice those prayers and speak love to your child!
Send Your Child to School with a Full Love Cup
Mornings are rushed. It’s crazy. There’s cereal on the floor, the dog is barking, someone smeared jam on your pants and you can feel the bus rolling down the road. But with all of this, as the adult you need to be mindful of the way you are sending your child to school. And I don’t necessarily mean the physical way they are leaving. If their hair is messy and socks don’t match, but they leave with their love cup filled up, they will be successful!
Bite back to urge to speak sharply to your child. Give them words of peace, speak scripture over them and send them out the door with a hug. The way they leave your house sets them up for their whole day.
Use this verse to pray over your children as they head out the door. Remind them that they are not walking alone, that every step is taken with God. They do not need to be afraid because He is with them!
Give them those words of scripture and fill their love cups so when they get back to school they can be successful in the classroom!
Speak Positively About School to Your Child
Teachers, school admin, support staff…they’re all human. They make mistakes and they aren’t perfect. They may frustrate you or rub you the wrong way. Be careful what you say about them in front of your child.
If there is negativity at home towards school, you can bet your child will bring it with them into the building the next day. If the child loses faith in the teacher because a parent has said something it can create power struggles that will be hard to navigate. If a student doesn’t respect their teacher it can negatively impact being successful in the classroom.
If you have an issue with something in the classroom, send the teacher a message. Let them know you want to support them in any way possible. Most teachers want to give students the benefit of the doubt, they’ll bend over backwards to help a kid if they know something is wrong. And if the classroom teacher can’t help, move up the ladder. But be professional about it.
Remember we are God’s light in every situation. Approaching situations in school from the perspective that we are sharing our Heavenly Father’s love and grace shows people we have a heart for Jesus and not condemnation.
Read With Your Child
Did you know rhyming can help children develop reading skills? Those good old fashioned nursery rhymes or books with silly little stories are helping your child develop reading skills. Your kids need reading skills to be successful in the classroom…every class, math, science, social studies, and language!
It can come in the form of books or songs, anything that helps children understand the cadence and flow of words. As they get older continue to read with your children, talk to them about the pictures in the books they are reading and ask questions about what is happening. Reading doesn’t have to be a passive activity for your kids, there are times when they can actively engage with you and the book.
Reading before bed is probably the easiest way but there are other chances for reading while at home. Get kids to read directions for a recipe, read labels on food at the store or sit down with them on weekends to snuggle up with a book.
However you implement reading, make it a bonding experience. The more your child reads, the more they will improve and if reading is a fun activity at home they will be more likely to be successful in the classroom as well!
Relax!
Let your kids unwind, take a break and be comfortable. This goes for you as well. Your life is busy too, in a different way from your child’s. Eat a meal together, even if it’s toast and cheese or oatmeal. Ask them questions about their day. Things like “what was one thing you really enjoyed today?” Or “if you could have changed one thing today, what would it be?” It doesn’t always have to be about math or science class.
Have your child help pack their lunch for the next day and check in on homework. Activities and sports can be a good way to help unwind (unless your kid is the goalie for a AAA team, surprisingly this is very stressful). But for most kids having something they enjoy helps build confidence and provides an outlet.
Building a Christian home means creating a space that let’s your children feel comfortable and relaxed. When they come home they know their space is one of love and joy, not hate and strife.
Back to School Success Starts at Home!
It starts at home but it doesn’t end at home. If you want your child to do well in their lives, it’s important to set them up for success. You are their support system, cheer leader, rule enforcer and jumping off point. No pressure right?
As a parent we can feel pulled in so many directions and sometimes we aim at perfection instead of being the best we can be. The home doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be spotless and smell like freshly baked cookies everyday. A home where a child feels loved and supported is where they will thrive.
So keep at it. Don’t get discouraged. Parenting is hard work. But it is worth it in the end. Keep up those routines in your house, have conversations with your child and let them know you care. When you send your child to school with your encouragement and love in their back pockets you are giving them all they need to be successful!
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