August 18, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 11 �������������� Starting the school year off on the right foot is important for any student, and doing so can mean the difference between an unexcited child and one who is confident and optimistic. Change is not always easy for children, so it is extremely helpful when parents take steps to mentally ����������������������������� prepare their children for transitions, such as heading back to school. ������������ Set the foundation for a successful school year with the following tips: �������������������� Make a school visit together. Ease your child’s nerves before the first day by visiting school one or more times to locate his or her classroom, bathrooms, the lunch room, ������������������ and any other area of the school your child might be unfamiliar with. Practice opening that locker a few times. Your child’s teacher or teachers may also be at school the week or two before the first day, so be sure to drop by and introduce yourselves. Practice the school day routine. At least one week before the first day of school, move up bedtime to a more typical school year hour. Have your child set his or her alarm clock and practice the morning routine: breakfast, getting dressed, gathering backpacks and supplies, and even walking to school or the bus stop. Start using the calendar. If you do not have one Parents: Help your students start the school year right already, purchase a family calendar and note all important dates: the first day of school, back-to-school night, parent-teacher conferences, and the like. Continue to write your child’s extracurricular obligations on the calendar, and encourage him or her to do the same with test dates, homework, and project deadlines. Let your child pick out a simple notebook or planner at the grocery or book store in which he or she can keep track of assigned and to-be-completed homework. Clear off the desk. If your child’s desk has gotten a little dusty this summer, now is the time to get it ready for school. Make sure your child’s study space is in a quiet area of the home, such as his or her room or another place where he or she can concentrate. That area should have proper lighting and the right supplies nearby. Develop an organizational system at home. Create a space in your home where your child can empty and hang his or her backpack, setting aside important papers or information from school for you to review in one pile or folder and to-be-completed homework in another. Even if he or she takes an after school break before diving into the studies, employing a simple system will keep the entryway neat, minimize chaos at homework time (and in the morning), and foster responsibility in your child. Be positive. Your child may be nervous about heading back to school, so be sure to model optimism and excitement about the new school year. Your child will pick up on your good attitude. Also, let him or her know you are always available to talk about problems. While preparation can help your child successfully transition from summer to a new school year, for some children, severe resistance may be a sign of something more than just gloominess about the end of summer. Children who struggled in one or more subjects in the previous year may especially fear going back to school because they do not want to experience that frustration again. A customized learning program might be what such a child needs to improve his or her school performance and raise his or her self-esteem. This article was submitted by Huntington Learning Center. For additional information on the center’s programs, call 1-800 CAN LEARN. Many parents of school-aged children are interested in packing a healthy and environmentally friendly lunch for their children each day. However, they may have questions regarding how to do just that. This is the season for school lunches, as thousands of students will be heading back to the classroom and the lunchroom. For those who will be bringing a lunch from home, there are ways to make it healthy for the body and the planet. Choose foods the child will eat. Nothing is more wasteful than a lunch that ends up in the trash rather than the stomach. Instead of experimenting with foods that one would hope a child will eat, select healthy items that have a past track record for success. Skip the brown bags. Certain children may relish the idea of bringing in a character-themed lunch box. Older children may scoff at the idea. But the fact is that disposable paper lunch bags are wasteful and reusable lunch carriers are much more eco-friendly. Today there are Pack a ‘green’ school lunch this fall lunch bags that are subdued in color and style and are often insulated to keep food at the right temperature. Select organic foods. Whether the child is bringing in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a pizza on a pita, choose foods that are organically grown or local. Supermarkets now stock the shelves with plenty of organic options that are free from pesticides and harmful growing practices. These foods are healthier and more sustainable. Buy favorite foods in bulk. If the child loves cereal treats or whole-grain granola bars, buy the big box and store it in the pantry. This saves on packaging and extra trips to the store, both of which are wasteful. Use reusable containers. Rather than packing a sandwich in a plastic baggie or a piece of plastic wrap, select a series of sandwich holders, containers and the like that can transport the lunch contents to and from school. These items will have to be washed each night, but children won’t be contributing to extra waste. Pinnacle Learning Center At the Ramapo Reformed Church 109 West Ramapo Ave., Mahwah Conveniently located just off Route 17 7 AM - 6:30 PM M-F Yr. Round Flexible Hrs. Half and Full Day Pre-School - 2½ - 6 Years Crafts, Music, Spanish, Computers, Science AM & PM Academics. NEW Mommy & Me Program Owner/Director/Teacher Maria Cancelosi NJ State License CPR Trained Affordable - Sibling Discount Register for September 2010 201-512-3313 ��������� ���������������� ����������� ��������������� �������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ����������������������� � ������������������� ������������� ���������������������������������� ���������������������������� ���������������� ������� � ������������������ ������������� ���������������������������������� ���������������������������� ���������������� ������ ����������������� ������������������ ������������������������� ������������������������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������� ��������������� ������������������������ ������������