PARENTS' PREPARATION FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR

We are approaching the last weeks of the long holiday. Summer schools are rounding up activities in preparation for the new school year; teachers are busy planning their classrooms and learning materials to receive new students into their prepared classrooms.

In this pursuit of a successful new school year, parents should not be left out as they are a major factor if a child will be successful in school. Parents need to be equipped to usher the children into another school year especially because most children will be entering into a new class and some into a totally new school environment.

Whether you are a parent or guardian of a kindergartner, primary (elementary), JSS (middle) or secondary (high) school student, preparation is crucial because it precedes success in the new school year.

Children who are starting school for the first time or moving into a new class need to make adjustments, it entails coping with a new teacher and meeting with new friends. Parents can help make this transition steady and shock free for the children by taking appropriate steps. Some of the steps that can make the new school year a fantastic one are enumerated below based on their classes.

PRE-SCHOOL

For children in pre-school, starting school again can be a daunting task especially because most of them are below the age of 5. Parents can make resumption easier and fun by doing the following:

• Get back to the school routine a week before resumption. It is most likely that because of the holidays, wake up and breakfast time has changed, a week before resumption, wake the children up as if it were a school day. It will help hasten their adjustment into the school routine. 
• Shop for their breakfast and lunch. This includes their snacks, juice and also everything needed in packaging their meals fresh to school. 
• Get their change over clothes, under-wears, pants, socks, uniforms, sports wear, shoes and other school wears cleaned and ironed. If need be, get new ones. 
• Resume reading to them a week before school begins(if you stopped because of the holiday) 
• Remember to keep books everywhere in the house and everywhere they play. Let them always have access to books in the car, kitchen, bedroom etc. 
• Talk to your child’s teacher regularly on academic and social development. 
• Attend all school activities; it will help your child know that you also value education. 
• If permitted by the school, introduce your child to the teacher and mates on the first day of school. 
• Ensure your child has been fully immunized and discuss any health concern with the teacher and school head. 
• Collect the school supplies list. Ensure your child is equipped with the required school supplies-pencils, cleaners, textbooks, notebooks, activity sheets and everything required for the class.  
• Talk to your child about what he or she will expect at school. 
• Teach your child to be friendly in school. 
• For children boarding the school bus, educate them on safety while on board. 

PRIMARY (ELEMENTARY) SCHOOL 

• Get back to the school routine a week before resumption. It is most likely that because of the holidays, wake up and breakfast time has changed, a week before resumption, wake the children up as if it were a school day. It will help hasten their adjustment into the school routine. 
• Shop for their breakfast and lunch. This includes their snacks, juice and also everything needed in packaging their meals fresh to school. Never prepare to make them leave home without breakfast; it affects their learning negatively. 
• Get their under-wears, pants, socks, uniforms, sports wear, shoes and other school wears cleaned and ironed..If need be, get new ones. Involve them while doing this to teach them responsibility. 
• Re-arrange their home-work space. Equip it with the supplies needed for home-work. Make a study time table with them and paste in a conspicuous place in the home-work space. 
• Enlighten them about their new class and class teacher. Tell them the teacher is there to make them succeed. 
• Motivate them by letting them know that you are jealous about going to school. 
• Visit the school together a week ahead to pick up the school supply list and shop for them together. Let them make choices when necessary. 
• Pack their back packs but ensure it’s not too heavy. Let them carry it on both hands. Research has proven that carrying back packs on one hand can cause muscle strain. 
• Educate them on safety in school and in the school bus. 
• Discuss on the school rules together and remind them on the importance of abiding by them. 
• On the first week of school, pick them some minutes earlier than the close of school. 

 JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

 

• Fall back into school routine a week ahead of resumption. 
• Though they are mostly teenagers, they are not too old to be helped to wake up on time, do their homework and take their needed school supplies everyday.  
• Encourage them to put in their best every school day. 
• Shop for their required school supplies and learning materials together. Give them chance to make choices when necessary. 
• Visit the school together a week before resumption, let them visit their new class and meet their new teachers. 
• Request for the school approved dress code and plan to abide by it strictly. Go through the school rules together with your child and encourage the child to abide by them. 
• Set up an assignment checklist and review it together once the school resumes. 
• Ask questions in a friendly manner; engage them in discussions that will reveal what is going on with them. 
• Encourage them on the importance of having friends who are studious.
•  Encourage them to say no to things they are not comfortable with among peers. 
• Be a part of their home-work and projects, your praise and encouragement will go a long way in helping them to succeed. 
• Remind them of the need to prepare for the National examinations at the end of middle school(JSS) 
• Talk to them on what they would like to choose as a career. Prepare them gradually through discussion on what they will like to specialize on in high school. 

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS (HIGH SCHOOL)

• Make sure they attend school regularly. 
• Provide all necessary supplies and materials needed for learning. 
• Keep yourself abreast of school events and make sure you attend. 
• Communicate with the school regularly on your child’s academic and all round progress. 
• It’s time to start preparing them for their final examination. Ensure they get all they need to succeed. Tutorials, learning materials, motivation and encouragement. 
• Make your home a good place to learn and study. Surround your home with educative materials that will aid learning and good morals.
• Encourage them to be involved in school extra curricular activities. 
• Help them to focus on their education. Let them know it guarantees a great future. Reduce their distractions. 
• Be a role model to them and be open enough for them to approach you when they have challenges. 
• Prepare them gradually for their final examination and life in the college or university. 
• Show them you love and wish that they succeed in life. 

When children see us preparing for them to have a good start into the new school year,psychologically they are motivated to succeed. May we find in them the future we desire.

B.A TAIWO