August 17, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 13 With summer coming to a close, perhaps your child is resisting trading in his or her fun, leisurely schedule for the school routine. “End of summer is bittersweet for some children, while others are much more fearful about going back to the classroom,” said Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. “No matter what your child’s demeanor, it is beneficial for parents to prepare their child for the change.” Huntington Learning Center offers these tips to get your child ready to head back to school. Take your child back-to-school shopping. Spending a day together buying school supplies, and maybe even a new back-to-school outfit, is a fun way to get into the school mode and a good opportunity to let your child tell you the things he or she thinks will help make him or her successful. It’s also a good chance to have one-on-one conversations about goals for the year. Introduce your child to another classmate or two. A few weeks before the first day of school, reconnect with friends from last year who will be in your child’s new class. If your child is new to the school, look around your neighborhood to find other children of the same age. Plan to get extra help. For students who struggled in the previous school year, the idea of going back to school may Six tips to set the foundation for a great school year be especially stressful. Summer is a great time to build skills and improve weaker areas, but if your summer was focused on other things, now is a great time to investigate supplemental education services for your child. Talk to his or her teacher in advance about problem areas and explore how the two of you can work together to get your child off on the right foot. Set an optimistic tone. As a parent, you have a lot of influence on your child’s attitude toward school. Show him or her through your actions that learning is fun and a part of everyday life. Teach your child to value effort and hard work. Your child also needs to understand that failure is something we all experience. What matters is how we learn from it and move forward. Be prepared. Many schools have an orientation before school starts, which gives parents the information they need about school supplies, dress code, required forms, transportation, and more. Being organized and on top of all school requirements will minimize first-week stresses for you and your child. Meet the teacher. Your school may host a meet-yourteacher day, which is a great opportunity for your child to get to know his or her new teacher before the first day. If not, ask the school if you and your child can come in another time before school starts. Get familiar with the school layout and other school resources that will help your child (the guidance counselor and speech therapist, for example). Let your child’s teacher know that you look forward to working together this year. The beginning of a new school year is full of excitement and promise, and parents can set the tone at home so that their children see it that way, too. “Let your child know that he or she has a strong support system in you and his or her teacher,” Huntington added. “And remember that when it comes to going back to school, a little preparation and a good attitude can go a long way.” To learn more back-to-school tips, contact Huntington Learning Center at 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit www. huntingtonlearning.com.