HARTFORD — It’s time to reprogram your kids to go back to school. That means giving them the tools they need and getting them back on track for early mornings. Dr. Doug Haddad, educator and author, stopped by the Fox CT Morning Extra Monday to talk about what you can do now to get your kids ready.
Make organization a priority for the upcoming school year! If you’re a parent of an elementary or even a middle school student, you know how easy your kids may lose a handout or homework assignment.
- Sturdy backpack
First and foremost you want to purchase a backpack that has well-padded shoulder straps to help protect their shoulders and neck. You want to make sure that the backpack sits snugly against your child’s back and not hanging loosely which can pull backward and strain their muscles and cause postural misalignment. Also, you want to make sure it is light in weight and appropriate to a child’s size. Spending a few more dollars for your child’s health and longevity of the backpack is well worth it.
- 3-ring binder with a 3-hole puncher
3-ring binder that has dividers for each class (especially important for middle and high schoolers). You may want to purchase a couple of them (one for morning and another for afternoon classes). The most popular size is 2″. I also include a couple of plastic folders because they are durable and serve a very important organizational purpose. You want a system that reduces a child’s stress so they can easily locate papers, especially as the work load increases. I would recommend one of the folders to be strictly dedicated to homework. Take a sharpie marker and label the left side of the folder “Returned papers” and the right side of the folder “Homework”. In the second folder, label the left side “To Be Turned in” and the right side “Turn in Later”.
You also want to make sure you have a 3-hole punch included for all papers you receive from the teacher and then appropriately place them in the folders or in the appropriate section where that subject is located in your binder.
- Pencil box (that holds more than just pencils)
They sell plastic pencil boxes where you can hold more than just pencils and pens. Look for ones that are sectioned and can hold various important school supplies such as erasers, small pencil sharpeners, highlighters, colored pencils, and a ruler.
TIPS TO GET YOUR CHILD IN THE CORRECT SLEEPING PATTERN FOR SCHOOL
The kids may be used to having their phone or tablet right next to them when they go to sleep. However, late night texting and phone use can become a serious concern that can spill over into the school year. Studies have shown that the blue light emitted from cell phones, smartphones and tablets activates a cognitive arousal that disrupts the body’s production of melatonin – which is the sleep-inducing hormone. Furthermore, the constant vibrations and alerts when they receive a text, e-mail or social media-related message prevents a child from getting a good quality sleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends elementary school-age children (1st-5th grade) receive 10-11 hours of sleep a night while middle and high school students are recommended to obtain 8.5-9.5 hours a night. According to the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, losing as little as one hour of sleep can disrupt a child’s performance at school.
WHAT ARE SOLUTIONS FOR RE-PROGRAMMING THE KIDS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR
Having too much technology in a child’s bedroom programs a child’s brain into thinking their room is an entertainment room rather than a quiet place to sleep. I would recommend the following tips for parents:
Limit the amount of technology already present in your child’s room. The less the better from the start.
Remove all portable electronic devices from a child’s bedroom before they go to sleep.
Start now by bringing bedtime up earlier by 10-15 minute increments each day leading up to the first day of school and kids will be energized, excited, and of course a bit nervous for the start of a new school year!
