For elementary school students, especially those entering kindergarten, it’s
important to talk about the way your son or daughter has grown in the past
year, and to ask what they’ll want to get out of school in the coming year. If
you can, speak to the principal of your child’s school during the summer, so
that you can get an idea of exactly what your child needs to know before the
coming school year. Take about an hour each day to review familiar academic
concepts to your child, and slowly introduce new learning tools during the
summer, so that your son or daughter won’t be so overwhelmed in the classroom.
When you’re ready to go shopping for the first day of school, take some of
your child’s clothes from the closet to see what still fits. This will not only
help you to decide how many new outfits you need to buy, but it will help your
child to see how much he or she has grown. If your child has to wear a uniform
to school, check with local retailers in your area to see which stores are
offering discounts. And, let your child be involved in shopping for school
clothes as well; let them choose their favorite colors or styles as much as
possible, so that they will wear their clothes with confidence and feel more
comfortable about starting school.
You’ll also want to take your child to the doctor before school starts for
an exam. If your child has to take medication regularly, make sure that he or
she knows the time of the dosages, in case they have to visit the school nurse
during the day. You can also make sure that your child is feeling good about
going back to school by taking time to have a discussion with your son or
daughter about their feelings about returning to school. Make sure that your
child is comfortable expressing fear or anxiety about going back to school, and
be sensitive to their concerns.