Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Rock Island-Milan (IL) School Dist. 41
Milan, IL
Are mornings a struggle in your house? Do you find it difficult to get the kids up
and get everyone out the door on time?
Here are a few simple tips to help you get your kids—and you!—off to the
best possible start to the school day.
1) Prepare the night before. The start to your day
actually begins the night before. Make
sure clothes are laid out, backpacks are packed and lunches are in the fridge
and ready to go. Get the kids to bed at
a decent hour and help them get all of the sleep they need. Here is a quick guide from WebMD regarding
how much sleep the kids need:
Age 3-6: 10-12 hours per night
Age 7-12: 10-11 hours per night
Age 12-18: 9-10 hours per night
2) Set a wake up time so that you’re not
rushed. What sets a better tone for the
day, rushing around or being able to take your time and attend to what needs
attending to?
3) Eat breakfast.
It really is the most important meal of the day. It fills the gas tank for the day. Whether it’s at home or at school, save time
to make sure the kids get a healthy breakfast.
My kids do well with proteins and whole grains.
4) Be positive.
No matter what last night brought, start your kids’ day with a hearty
and heartfelt “Good morning!” and a smile!
Each new day is a blank canvas.
Treat it that way. Let your kids
know that you are counting on them to be their best at school that day and
every day!
5) Let your kids know that you’re going to think
about them during the day. Whether you
tell them directly or leave them a note in their lunchbox or backpack, your
kids love knowing that you’re thinking about them during the day.
6) Ask your kids, “Is there anything I can do
before you leave or I drop you off to help you have a great day?” This is a good
way to be proactive and to deal with potential problems before they occur.
7) Dress appropriately for the weather, especially
during cold weather. I’ve seen some kids
“snow” their parents (no pun intended) into letting them leave the winter coat
at home. They say things like, “I’m only
going from the car to the front door” or “We’re not going out for recess
today.” Um, what about a fire drill or
other emergency that might require them to leave the building? Ask them to make sure they have a coat. However, I would not get involved in a
protracted war about the issue. Natural
consequences work wonders. If they have
to go outside for any length of time and it’s 20 degrees, they’ll quickly learn
to take their coat from then on.
8) Dress appropriately for school. Know your school’s dress code and abide by
it. It’s there for a reason.
9) Tell your kids you love them. Make sure these are the last words your kids
hear before you see them again at the end of the day. It’s also a harsh reality that the last time
you see someone could be the last time you ever see someone. We don’t like to think about that but it’s an
unfortunate fact in today’s world. Make
sure that what could be your last words are loving ones. There’s peace of mind there.
These are just a few things that we have found through trial
and error over the years to help us have a decent start to our school days in
our house. I’d be interested in hearing
what you think. Please leave a comment
or two and as always, thanks for taking time out of your busy lives to read
this. I genuinely appreciate it!
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