The beginning of a new school year is typically filled with many emotions. Children are excited to meet new friends and learn new things, but also nervous about the unknown. Back to school can be an especially challenging time for families with children who struggle with reading, writing, math, organization or focus. Believe it or not, one in five children in the U.S. have learning and attention issues, like ADHD and dyslexia. Many of these go undiagnosed every year. Children with these types of challenges can feel especially stressed during the back-to-school season as they face new subjects, teachers, and schools.
Here are some great tips, brought to you by The Ad Council and Understood.org to help your child be First-Day Ready.
Plan Plan Plan – Planning early is important to help relieve stress. Creating structure and routine around the start of the new school year—with checklists, calendars and other organization systems— helps prepare kids for class expectations. The Back-to-School Countdown Planner will take the guesswork out of when the first day of school is.
Visit The School – Call the school and see if you can take your child on a school tour to help ease fears by showing them how to find their classroom, nearby bathrooms, the cafeteria and other important places the first week of school. This can be a huge stress relief whether the child is new to the school or not. Just knowing where to go can help them feel more comfortable.
Connect With The Teacher – Meeting the teacher early on benefits everyone and creates a great starting point for the new year. This will give you an opportunity to share your child’s needs or learning style while expressing your support for the teacher and the challenges he/she may be facing with a new classroom full of students.
Get Support – Many parents and students are going through the same experience. org and Understood’s Facebook page connect parents across the country to share information and learn from each other. You can also ask around your community and school to find other parents you can connect with.
So, no matter your child’s age or needs, make this Back-to-School season a seamless transition and positive experience! If you could use some help getting started on the right foot this school year Understood.org is also offering a free First-Day Ready Guide to help.
