Dreamstime
Kids with backpacks run to school
Group of kids run together holding hands and wearing backpacks toward school
Hear that? It’s the echo of the school bell ringing through the hallways. Time to get to class!
Somehow the slow and easy days of summer seem to have flown by. But let’s be honest, they weren’t all slow and easy — with family trips, summer camps, activity schedules, and the inevitable boredom that comes with time off from school and homework, the return of routine might just be welcome.
We hope this issue can act as a guide as you ease back into the school schedule. While your child is entering a new grade with some new classmates, it’s important to be mindful of his or her well-being. Remember to check in on how their days go and whether or not relationships with peers are strained. In “Bullying Behaviors,” Youth Villages’ Dr. Rebekah Lemmons covers tips on recognizing the warning signs of bullying — and intervening if it occurs.
It’s also important to consider physical health, and one thing parents may overlook is backpack safety. In our "Backpack Safety" feature, read tips from a Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital nurse on selecting the right backpack — and suggestions on proper use — to maintain your child’s spinal health.
For parents looking to go back to school themselves, Southwest Tennessee Community College offers discounted child care. Read about their CCAMPIS program — and how it can help single and working parents earn a degree — in “Graduation Goals.”
Finally, don’t forget that going back to school is not always easy for kids; homework and the pressure to do well and make good grades can be overwhelming. While discipline is crucial, remember that incentives — think an hour of TV time or a family trip to the movie theater — act as great motivators. Read more about one local parent’s experience with using rewards to encourage education (in “Encouraging Education”).
Is your child repeating a grade this year? If so, remind them that this is OK. Using empowering affirmations can help them regain their confidence and work through this school year with new vigor. Let them know you are proud of them no matter what.
Now take a few deep breaths before things kick back into high gear — you and your kids are going to do great this year!
Shara Clark
Editor