Champaign-Urbana families can take steps to prepare for the back-to-school routine
Independence and self-care skills are always of great importance when it comes to your soon-to-be-school-aged child. With back to school right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to set out those backpacks, lunch bags, and lightweight jackets. These tips have been crafted with all ages in mind, though some will be more relevant to younger elementary kids and others will apply to tweens and teens, too.
Thank you to Christie Clinic for presenting our 2022 Champaign-Urbana Area Back to School series.
Christie Clinic wants you to give your kids a healthy start to the school year. Parents can currently make back-to-school appointments for their children through their MyChristie patient portal or by using online scheduling at christieclinic.com. Find more information about school physicals here.
1. Pack-a-lunch practice
Alleviate lunchtime stress by packing a lunch for your child this summer. Have them work on opening their lunch packages and drinks (where does the straw go in that Capri Sun?!) Many early elementary students struggle with this skill. Helping children practice boosts their confidence and allows them to spend more time actually eating when lunchtime arrives. Practice with a timer to show your child how long that they will have to eat their lunch so that they can work on efficiently managing their time.
2. Carry a backpack here to there and everywhere
Have your child work on carrying a backpack with a few fun toys during the next few weeks. Arrival and departure times at school can be somewhat chaotic for students and teachers. This skill is good for children to work on so they can practice zipping up, putting on, and taking off their own backpacks independently. And pick the spot in your house where the school stuff needs to live, so that they know where to hang their backpack at the end of each day — so it doesn’t end up on the floor because, let’s face it, we all know that is where it ends up.
3. Start a calendar together
Children thrive on routine and predictability. Create a calendar with your child and let them know about important family events coming up, or count down to their birthday or a special activity. This helps them learn the concept of time and how to process it. Some children benefit from physically marking off the days on their calendar or listing chores on this document, as well, so that they can visually track their activity and performance. We all benefit from knowing the days we get to relax and stay at home, so visually show your children that those days are coming.
4. Review proper hand washing
We’ve heard so much these past few years about the importance of washing your hands, but we highly recommend reviewing this skill with your kids for any school year. The whole family can work on practicing this together. Teach your children to grab the soap, sing a song that lasts 20 seconds (ABCs anyone?), rinse and dry. You can also take some time to try out hand sanitizers so kids know the proper way to retrieve the right amount, “catch,” and rub it all over.
5. For your youngest students: Go over bathroom etiquette
Beyond the basics of pulling clothes down and pulling them back up, there are a few other reminders to re-visit before going to school. Talk about remaining in the stall until all their clothing is readjusted and not peeking under stalls at other kids. You can emphasize the importance of privacy by encouraging your kids to close the bathroom door at home, even if that’s something they don’t normally do. It’ll translate well to all other areas of life.
6. Make learning fun the final weeks of summer and refresh their memory as to what they’ve learned
It doesn’t matter what age your kids are and whether you have completely forgotten about that math packet that was in the end-of-year garbage bag back in May. Incorporate learning into activities that are fun and motivating for your child the next few weeks. Practice letters with sidewalk chalk, find reasons to write things with a pencil and paper (letters to Grandma, perhaps) or make some homemade ice cream and talk about that (delicious) science experiment that is happening. You know your kids and what will bend their minds back into learning activities as the school year approaches.
7. Read a book — any age, any stage
Take your kids to the library to pick out books they are interested in reading because no matter what their age, it always helps to have something fun to read. You can check out some, too, and lead by example. Cracking open a book is a great way to get moving back toward the school groove of reading assignments and as long as it’s summer break, your kids get to have all the say in what they’re reading. Graphic novels, anyone?
8. Get out and move
One thing is certain, building movement opportunities and outdoor play into a child’s day is so beneficial. Getting outside and moving about helps to make seated work for extended periods of time easier. When children routinely meet their sensory needs (we all have them), it helps to improve their endurance in sedentary work. Encourage your children to get outside and engage in physical activity to work on increasing tolerance for fall routines.
9. Enjoy every last minute of summer (pool parties, family movie nights, snuggles, and more)
For real. Make memories to last a lifetime and embrace the next several weeks as the school year rapidly approaches. It’s OK to be a little sad that summer is coming to a close, but make sure to take time to enjoy the dog days of summer.