GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — We are less than a week away from the start of a brand-new school year for some students across West Michigan.
Now is the time to get your kids ready to head back to the classroom.
Many kids probably aren’t ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, but the school year is fast approaching. Experts say there are five simple things that parents and students can do to start it off on the right foot.
Dr. Adelle Cadieux, a pediatric psychologist with Corewell Health of West Michigan, says you should start by attending your school’s open house.
“It's a great opportunity for the kids to see the school, to meet the teacher, to see where their classroom is, and even meet some of the other students,” Dr. Cadieux said.
Next, practice your morning routine by getting dressed and waiting for the bus.
“Especially like where their bus stop is going to be, or if they're going to be riding to school, where that drop off is going to be and where their pickup is, so that kids again, they just know what to expect," Dr. Cadieux said.
Third, don't try to get your kids back into a sleep schedule in one night. Instead, it's better to ease them into it.
“Start, you know, decreasing that bedtime by 15 minutes every few days, and that way we can ease them into a better sleep schedule, and by the time that first week of school is here, they're going to be closer to their normal bedtime," Dr. Cadieux said.
The fourth tip is to make breakfast a priority in the morning.
“We want to make sure that we don't go to school hungry, or that we don't start our day hungry, because that hunger can decrease our mood, make us maybe a little more irritable, but it also affects our focus, our concentration and our memory," Dr. Cadieux said.
Finally, start teaching your child about bullying and how to respond.
“We can help them to learn how to interact appropriately with other kids too, and so making sure they know that it's okay to inform a teacher about it or come home and tell a parent, and that way we can help support our kids and reduce that bullying experience," Dr. Cadieux said.
Experts say if parents follow these five steps, then children will have a strong start to the new school year.
If school starts and you notice your child is still stressed and anxious every morning, there is help available. Reach out to your health care provider or someone in behavioral health services.
They can help your child to feel more comfortable about being at school.