As summer winds down, parents and children have to gear up for a brand new school year. While most school districts provide plenty of helpful school supply lists for kids to start off their new school year—# 2 pencils, binders and organizers, scientific calculators and everything in between—there are also some very important items that can't be purchased.
Mighty Mommy shares five things your kids really need for this upcoming school year that you won’t find in the back-to-school aisles.
#1: Patience
The one tool that all parents need, no matter the time of year, is patience and if you have it, then you and your kids can have an A+ school year! Summertime causes us all, parents and kids alike, to go into relaxation mode. It's easier to be patient in Summer when everyone seems less demanding and less pressured. But come Fall, every child has a demand and often all demands are landing on you at the same time. Because of the sheer newness of hectic back-to-school schedules, patience is perhaps of greatest asset for all parents. Going back to a classroom routine, getting used to new teachers and classmates, and learning how to manage homework and activity schedules can be overwhelming for kids. The new school year is generally the time of year I see my kids act out more and test the waters to see what they can and can’t get away with. When I hold it together and stay calm and patient, it has a ripple effect on the rest of my family and helps keep them grounded. So practice as much patience as possible when those school bells ring in a few weeks. See Also: How To Stop Yelling At Your Kids
#2: Positive Attitude
For lots of parents, Summer is the single most upbeat season of the year. Life seems carefree and—dare I say it—fun! But that can all change in a heartbeat when we realize that structure and endless commitments are about to take hold when the new school year arrives. That doesn’t have to be the case if you enroll yourself in one of the best classes you can benefit from all year long—maintaining a positive attitude.
I know from experience that my eight kids respond to the tone set by myself and their father. If one of us is having a bad day, my kids get tense and usually follow suit. But when we lighten up, joke around, and find something positive to focus on in the midst of fall chaos or anything else that is causing us strain, it teaches our children to do the same. Practicing to be positive is definitely a choice you make as a person and a parent. One of the best pieces of parenting advice I received years ago from my Mom was that no matter what, try and share a smile with your kids every day. It’s an instant way to make them feel loved!
#3: An Organized Home
An important skill that will help your children as they grow, as well as when they leave the nest entirely, is learning to stay organized. If your household isn’t organized to begin with, then you can use this as a teaching opportunity for the entire family as you work together to get all the rooms in your home clutter-free.
Make a list of some of your clutter habits. Then, once you identify your bad habits, pick one to change and one replacement habit. For example, instead of letting your mail pile up on your kitchen counter for a week (or two), follow the Domestic CEO’s easy tips to handle the mail every single day.
Or, instead of letting your child’s clean laundry sit on her bureau or the closet floor, show her how to put it away correctly so that she’ll get into the habit of respecting her things and her environment—and avoid shuffling through messy piles to find a clean pair of socks. Start small by choosing just one habit, and pick one that you feel confident about changing. Once your home starts getting (and staying) organized, you will all have more time to relax and enjoy quality family time. See Also: Domestic CEO's 6 Rules for an Organized Home
#4: Plenty of Rest
Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night is very important to our physical and emotional health. Of course, with everything we need to do throughout the day, many of us deprive ourselves of the proper rest. Families are often so busy that they steal extra time from their sleep, creating a bad habit that can last a lifetime. By establishing a regular bedtime for yourself and your kids, you will be setting up a very important habit that will not only benefit your kids during the school year, but will carry over into your child’s adulthood.
For example, if your 10th grader loves to leave school projects until the last minute, figuring he can pull late nights on a regular basis to get the job done, it’s time to make a change. Establish a family habit that homework, projects, and your own professional deadlines must be completed by 9pm the night before they are due, no excuses. You will set a positive guideline for your entire family that once 9pm arrives, if the school science experiment is still not done and the review of your company’s payroll policy is not even close to being rectified, it’s going to have to wait until the following day. No one in the family wants to squirm under pressure when a deadline isn’t met, so set the example yourself by completing work and home tasks on time so your family will follow. See Also: 5 Ways to Help Your Family Sleep Better
#5: A Full Tank
Today’s kids live very full and scheduled lives. While there is nothing wrong with that, it’s also important to learn that we all need down time on a regular basis to recharge our batteries.
Remember: You don’t have to accept every invitation or commitment that comes your way during this new school year.
Get into the habit of incorporating “time for self” each and every week for all members of the family. Let your children see you lying on the couch reading or sitting at the table doodling. Take walks at the beach or in the park together. When our kids and other family members see us creating regular “me time” it teaches them the important lesson that it is not selfish to step away from our harried schedules to refuel our tanks, but rather that it’s vital to our overall healthy well-being. See Also: 5 Ways Selfish Parenting can Benefit Your Family
How do you prepare your family for the new school year?
Share your thoughts in the comment section athttp://ift.tt/1zMEe2L or post your ideas on the Mighty Mommy Facebook page. You can also connect with me on Twitter @MightyMommy or email me at mommy@quickanddirtytips.com. Visit my family-friendly boards at http://ift.tt/1wyJKr5.
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