Getting through the School Daze

It's back to school time again. Does the thought of having to get everyone organized and out the door make you want to send for boarding school brochures? Here are a few tips to help get through that back to school daze.

Making Merry Mornings:

The biggest cause of whining and tantrums in the morning is a sleepy child trying to make a decision. Eliminate the choices along with the grumpiness.

  • Lay out clothes the night before. This simple action can prevent wasting time looking for a missing shoe or favorite pants that are still in the dryer.

  • Pack a lunch or put out lunch money the night before.

  • If family members share a bathroom in the morning, work out a schedule and have them stick to it.

  • A good night's sleep is essential to reducing some of the morning moodiness. Keep a regular bedtime ? both parents and children.

Staying Cool At School:

New situations can make children anxious and uncomfortable. Knowing what to expect the first day can ease some of the anxiety.

  • If the child is going to a new school, attend the orientation session or arrange for a tour of the school. Navigating around a new place can be scary for a child.

  • Suggest to the youngster to call friends to find out if they share any classes. What a comfort to have a friend to sit next to in class or in the cafeteria.

  • Buy only 1-2 new outfits before schools starts. Usually it is still warm when school starts so children can wear last spring's clothes, plus this gives the child time to see what is "in" this year before buying.

Effortless Evenings:

Homework, clubs, sports?Organization is key to keeping track or what's happening and when.

  • Create a special spot for homework. Setting one location for studying can help with concentration as well as minimize the chance of a book being misplaced.

  • Have a system for the student to keep track of all assignments and upcoming tests. This system can be as simple as a small notebook where homework for all classes is written down.

  • Start a family calendar to keep track of PTA meetings, school parties, extracurricular activities, etc.

  • A daily family ritual can give the child (and parents) something to look forward to. Ideas are a card game after dinner, a walk in the park, or a crafts project.

About The Author

Written by Megan Corwin, Personal Coach. Visit www.megancorwin.com or email megan@megancorwin.com to schedule your complimentary 30-minute coaching session and to find out how a personal coach can help you have more time and energy for the things you enjoy.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112102807.htmlcid=1273140708ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNEhCLrp8IGNLqaAJF7ktRVHAFX-fwGetting Tough on Bullying/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWashington Post,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1And as mounting research shows the negative effects on both the bully and the victim, mental-health professionals, schools, bparents/b and even kids themselves b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Monday-Coldplaycid=1271797112ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNFXeN0Qvyr0Oosl1tm-CUtRMmW3Ewimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=GYQyxreckWcJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/phplAo7oVPM.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Monday-Coldplaycid=1271797112ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNFXeN0Qvyr0Oosl1tm-CUtRMmW3Ew(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Sherrill Fulghum, New York Music Examiner When artists record an album there is often more songs written and recorded than make it onto the album. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1243-DC-Metro-Area-Parenting-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Safe-Haven-Child-Abandonmentcid=0ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNGooGSTbCa2yKEwSefwsE0ZTFkVuwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=DwTvEEwTn98Jimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/phpi71mYJAM.jpg width=53 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1243-DC-Metro-Area-Parenting-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Safe-Haven-Child-Abandonmentcid=0ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNGooGSTbCa2yKEwSefwsE0ZTFkVuw(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Michelle Flannigan, DC Metro Area bParenting/b Examiner Last month, a mother abandoned a newborn girl in a garbage sack in Tacoma Park. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.lawrentian.com/home/news/2008/11/21/Features/Queer.Parenting.More.Than.Cute.Baby.Photos-3552084.shtmlcid=1273050426ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNGUrCvHTy4gBI50Z6F6lC5RjY98_QQueer bparenting/b: more than cute baby photos/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLawrentian (subscription),nbsp;WInbsp;-/font nobr20 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-113 four Lawrence University faculty members shared four unique versions of what it is like to be a queer bparent/b in Appleton. While each tale differed in b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1505-Chicago-Special-Needs-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Holiday-leftoverscid=0ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNEg1L3rcX5PtQnwVE3d4ucmFSNN1Qimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=10EPqcEdldgJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/Jake_Liefer__photo_by.jpg width=80 height=41 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1505-Chicago-Special-Needs-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Holiday-leftoverscid=0ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNEg1L3rcX5PtQnwVE3d4ucmFSNN1Q(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Kathleen Milazzo, Chicago Special Needs Examiner We all know how great holiday leftovers can be, however these leftovers do not consist of food not eaten b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1051-Independent-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Cultures-of-Murdercid=0ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNFegWjHnNF-WYggkvMrzQBf3Eg4Cg(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Brian Trent, Independent Examiner While his mother screamed and begged for mercy, a 15-year-old Indian boy was beaten, his scalp shaved, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-faithhealingamplaw,0,3467888.storycid=1273000725ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNEQ2-jjsnO-sHcw0YwDaSvG7muzrAChild deaths test faith-healing exemption/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChicago Tribune,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrNov 21, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;We can#39;t legislate good bparenting/b, but at least we shouldn#39;t have laws allowing bad bparenting/b,quot; said Swan, who now heads the advocacy group Children#39;s b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4767579a6479.htmlcid=1273017541ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNENI08X0wPbzZiRUaa04uQ5m0zAtQThousands to get lessons in bparenting/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fStuff.co.nz,nbsp;New Zealandnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1A Government scheme that sends bparents/b of violent or misbehaving children to bparenting/b courses is to expand to up to 15000 more families. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Live-Earth-20008cid=1272528345ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNFlWQz6WNMAbNTN6UtqN1iGLzQonwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=zjLuTuh7oRUJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/phpYFp10BPM.jpg width=80 height=66 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Live-Earth-20008cid=1272528345ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNFlWQz6WNMAbNTN6UtqN1iGLzQonw(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Sherrill Fulghum, New York Music Examiner In 2007 former Vice-President Al Gore launched a campaign for awareness of Global Warming. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.greatdad.com/tertiary/358/3354/mark-wahlberg-shares-parenting-advice.htmlcid=0ei=2WQoSYeNDqGO6AOHzsmIDwusg=AFQjCNFOlI4MHpMt5PIseiwTPMINhuAGDQMark Wahlberg shares bparenting/b advice/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGreat Dad,nbsp;Californianbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Fatherhood can be a wild ride, whether you are an average dad or a high-profile star who is balancing bparenting/b skills with the pressures of the celebrity b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
parenting - Google News

The Personality of a Virgo Child

Your Virgo Baby..August 23 - September 22Virgo children are honest... Read More

Learning Responsibility is a Lifelong Process

Learning responsibility is an ever widening and lifelong process.As thinking,... Read More

Use Encouragement Instead of Criticism to Help Children Improve

Criticism is punitiveOur children judge themselves on the opinions we... Read More

You Goofed? Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Certainly we all want our children to excel. But it... Read More

Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Many families do not want to believe their child is... Read More

Difference

There are times when my ideas of raising a child... Read More

How to Foster a Love of Reading and Writing in Your Child

The key to lifelong learning is reading and writing. When... Read More

Single Mother Sanity Savers Pt. 1

Being a single mother is no easy task. I know.... Read More

Childrens Allowance

When we consider that the word allowance means, "allowing for,"... Read More

A Good Preschool Idea

The successful preschool idea behind many successful preschool learning centers... Read More

Be Serious With Your Child Future

As a parent your biggest responsibility is to prepare your... Read More

Son, Can I Use The Car Tonight?

I recall somewhere in the recesses of my aging brain... Read More

Diagnosing ADHD in Your Child, an Introduction

Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More

Youth In A Changing World

IntroductionChildren are the gifts of God to parents. That young... Read More

Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson Never Went To Public School

Most of our Founding Fathers, including Ben Franklin, Sam Adams,... Read More

Car Wash Fundraiser Preparation

Are you considering a car wash fundraiser for your group?... Read More

The Scientific Breakthrough That Allows Every Couple To Choose The Gender Of Their Baby

The advances in science over the past century have been... Read More

Winning The Whining War

Jason Meridith's two-year old son whines when he wants more... Read More

Elephants and Teenagers

Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More

Using Pocket-money To Promote Independence In Kids

In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More

Planning the Ultimate Kid Birthday Party

Child Party Planning Guideline #1)Pick the ThemeYour child is going... Read More

Child Communication Skill: Do You Really Know What Your Child Is Saying To You?

Here's the scene of communication with your child: your three-year-old... Read More

Whats Mine Is Mine

You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More

Is Your Child Having Trouble in School?

Did you know that the school system is only able... Read More

The ADHD Parents Guide: Questions for the School

Here is something that you might want to keep if... Read More