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The vacations are off and the school is back.Parents and children have to adjust again to the same routine.Many problems arise because of this change and in this isuue we, are dealing with the common problems faced by kids and parents while they are getting ready for back to school season. 

Back To School Physicals          

Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids         

Establishing Back To School Bedtime     

Making School Easy for Kids             

5 Tips for Organisation             

Overloaded School Backpacks     

Homework Help Guidelines           

Is your child too busy? : Lowering The Stress              

School Parenting Tips: Getting Ready for School

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Communication with your kids

School is back in full swing, and parents are once again faced with the difficult task of getting their children to complete their homework. You may have heard some of these comments already: “No, I don’t have any homework,” “I’ll get it done later,” and “I did my homework at school.” Perhaps there have already been arguments over homework. You may be asking yourself if you’ll be informed that your child has not turned in work at the next parent-teacher conference. Don’t worry, you are not alone, and there are several things that you can do to start the school year off right and even prevent homework problems from occurring.

• Schedule a time for homework. Determine a reasonable time after school to schedule a homework period with your child. For example, if your children don’t participate in after school activities, let them have a snack and get comfortable for about 15 minutes after getting home. Then, begin homework time.
• Identify a homework location. The ideal location for homework is somewhere that is quiet, comfortable, and free from distractions. This spot will be even better if it has all of the supplies that will help your children complete school work (i.e., pencils, rulers, calculators, etc.). The television should never be on when homework is being done.
• Ensure homework assignments and materials are brought home. Provide your child with a planner in which he can write down homework assignments and upcoming tests. If your child forgets or appears unmotivated to use his planner, ask his teachers to initial the planner at the end of each period to ensure that your child documents the assignment correctly. Some schools now provide this information online, and you can alternatively check the assignments online to see if they match what has been written in the planner.
• Supervise homework. This is important for two reasons: 1.Your child may need assistance. 2. Your child may have difficulty maintaining attention without prompts and motivation. The older your child, the less supervision he will generally require. You want to be sure that level of assistance you are offering is commensurate with your child’s abilities. You do not want to do your child’s homework for him; you want to support your child so that he completes the homework with as little help as possible.
• Determine a homework routine. For example, have your child empty out his book bag before beginning homework. Have him open the planner to the day’s assignments and show it to you. Then, have your child get the necessary materials ready to begin. Finally, have your child choose the order for completing homework assignments.
• Set goals. Work with your child to set daily goals for homework completion. For example, you may determine that it should take your child about twenty minutes to complete a two page math worksheet.

Overloaded School Backpacks Often Cause Aches and Pains

Overloaded backpacks cause stress on the spine and shoulders, resulting in muscle fatigue and strain, claims the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).  In fact, the excessive weight in backpacks may cause a child to develop poor posture or slouch excessively. 

The AAOS recommends that the maximum weight of the child’s backpack should not exceed 15-20% of the child’s weight. A child who weighs 80 pounds should not carry more than 12-16 pounds in her backpack. This figure may vary depending on the child’s strength and fitness level.

To prevent injury, Boys Town Orthopeadics and the AAOS recommends:

• Using a backpack with wide, padded straps and a padded back.
• Using a hip strap when backpacks are overloaded.
• Firmly tightening both straps in order to hold the backpack 2 inches above the waist.
• Placing heavier items close to your back.
• Use proper lifting techniques: bend at the knees and use the legs to lift the backpack, placing one shoulder strap on at a time.
• Making frequent stops at your locker to unload books.
• Using a backpack with wheels.

Watch for the following warning signs that a backpack is too heavy: change in posture when wearing the backpack, pain while wearing the backpack, struggling when putting on or taking off the backpack, red marks on the shoulders, tingling or numbness in arms or legs.

Play to Teach

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Communication with your kids                           

Play to Teach                          

Sleeping Guide for Parents                   

Developmental  milestones  for   first   two   years             

Training    kids:  walking,  speaking,  potty   training, reading  &writing             

Growing    Up

We are instrumental in the development of habits that encourage our children to become lifelong learners. Costa and Kallick (2000) call intellectual behaviors that are advanced through knowing how to act on our experiences in life, “Habits of Mind.” According to them, a “Habit of Mind is knowing how to behave intelligently when you DON’T know the answer” (www.habits-of-mind.net/whatare.htm). The Habits of Mind developed during the crucial years of our childhood establish patterns and ways of thinking that remain with us throughout life. The learning opportunities we provide for our children assist them in cultivating this intellectual behavior.

According to the research of Entwisle, Alexander, and Olson (2001), students who are not provided with summer learning opportunities start each school year with a learning deficit, compared to students who enjoyed experiential opportunities for summer learning. Their work refers to these types of experiences: organized sports, day camps, swimming lessons, and trips to the zoo, local parks, and library. Recognizing that organized sports, day camps, swimming lessons, and trips to the zoo cost money, this article will focus first on summer learning experiences you, as a parent or caregiver, can provide for your children at little or no cost. Later, we’ll share information and suggestions for the remaining activities.

A walk with your child is a great way to “gather data through the senses” (Costa & Kallick, 2000). A walking trip to the park could be a planned event with a simple map that shows the route you will be taking. Depending on the age of your child, the walk will allow him or her to:

• Count the number of blocks you walk or the footsteps you take, and enter the information on the map.
• Count the number of animals, houses, stop signs, etc. you see.
• Experience textures (e.g., a rough sidewalk, a silky flower petal).
• Identify objects along the way. (You can have your child write the objects’ names on the map or you can keep a list for later reference to help with word recognition and spelling.)
• Identify colors. (Write the appropriate colors next to the objects your child identifies.)

The ideas are endless. You know your child and his or her learning needs best. Use this valuable knowledge to help you plan summer experiences and any follow-up activities you might want to develop from the information you gather in these adventures.

The library is a great place to visit. Local libraries offer great summer learning opportunities for children that allow them to experience the world through print as well as interact with other children socially. According to Entwisle et al. (2001), children in their study who often went to the library did better in fall testing than children who made limited visits or didn’t go at all. The study also found that children benefited from library visits in both reading and math.

Have your child join a local club. An Internet site (http://kidsclubs.about.com/) provides a wealth of information you and your child can explore together to find different types of clubs available in your area. If you do not own a computer, take advantage of your trip to the library to use one there to search the Internet for information specific to your area.

Zoo trips create excitement for children. Before journeying to the zoo, take some time to plan out the visit with your child. Work together to develop a budget for the trip. Have your child earn an allowance for doing age-appropriate tasks around the house so he or she can be responsible for purchasing some of his or her own food or a souvenir at the zoo.

As you are planning the trip, ask your child questions like:

1. What do you think we will do on our visit?
2. What animals do you think you will see at the zoo?
3. What animal would you like to see most of all?
4. Is there anything you would like to do besides see the animals?

The cost of summer day camps can range from free to beyond $100. Once again, an Internet search will provide information specific to your area. When I typed in the name of our community along with the words “summer day camp,” I found a large number of experiential opportunities for children ranging in cost from $10 for three hours of “camp” to $80 and up for daylong experiences. If you would like your child to attend a day camp (or take swimming lessons, join a club, or play organized sports), but don’t think you can afford it, ask if scholarships based on family income are available.

Enjoy your summer with your child. As your child’s caregiver, you are the most important person in his or her life. The time you spend with your child providing summer learning experiences will create lasting memories that will last a lifetime.

It’s pretty common to hear parents talk about racing their child from one club sport, to the next—or to an academic debate, school club or other roster of activities. For some children, adding extra-curricular activities may be due to the pressure of building a resume to get into a good college, while others feel peer pressure to hang out with a group of friends.  Some parents might feel their child is “missing out” if he isn’t constantly occupied. There are various reasons, but it all adds up to overload.

How Can Parents Tell if Their Child is Too Busy?

Boys Town Pediatrics helps parents look for signs of being over-loaded, such as:

• Feeling tired, exhausted or depressed
• Not enjoying the activity they once loved
• Lower grades in school
• Complaining of headaches or body aches, which may be due to stress or lack of sleep
• Having stomach pain, which may be due to missed meals or stress

An active schedule can wear on a child’s social and family life. When a child is too busy to play with friends, his friendships my suffer—as does the family structure if one parent is busy running one child to baseball practice while the other parent is at a dance recital. Not to mention, it can be extremely tiresome for everyone involved.

If you feel your child is too busy, Boys Town Pediatrics offers tips to help you get back on track:

• Schedule activities in moderation. Start slow and add an additional activity when you feel your child is ready to multi-task.
• Make sure the activity is developmentally appropriate for the age of your child.
• Keep a family calendar to stay organized. Place the calendar in a place where everyone can see it and can add their activities.
• Mark off a day on the calendar as a family day. Do not schedule any individual activities on that day and do something together as a family.
• Parents may need to say “No”.  If adding one more activity is going to overload your child, you can talk to her about dropping an activity to add the new one. 

Sleeping Guide for Parents

Take a moment and carefully examine your child’s schedule. If you feel there are too many activities scheduled, talk with your child and together decide where you can cut back. Keeping a structured active schedule can play a role in the health and well-being of your child.

One of the biggest problems with lunches packed at home is the high fat, sugar and sodium content found in most lunch items from the grocery store. Not to mention the lack of fruit, vegetables and whole grains in most lunchboxes.

Try not to fall into the convenient trap of always including pre-processed packaged foods in your child’s lunch such as chips, cookies, cupcakes, and other snack foods. Instead, think ahead and put together individual baggies filled with nutritious and tasty foods at the beginning of each week that you can grab from the fridge or cupboard and place into your child’s lunchbox. A few good ideas include baggies filled with:

• Grapes, strawberries, oranges, melon, etc. Freeze fruits in the summer for variety during the winter months.
• Carrots, celery, broccoli, etc.
• A blend of dried fruits, such as raisins, apple rings, banana chips. Add a few of your child’s favorite low-sodium nuts.
• Low sodium pretzels, baked chips, low-fat cheese crackers, nuts, sunflower seeds, etc.

Even the sandwich you pack for your child can be high in fat and sodium if you are not careful. Be sure to make a healthy sandwich by using:

• Whole grain bread instead of white bread – for variety, use a whole grain bagel or pita pocket.
• Low-fat lunch meats from the deli counter such as turkey breast, chicken breast, ham, bologna or roast beef, are much lower in fat than the pre-packaged kind.
• Look for meats that are at least 95% fat-free.
• Low-fat or fat free cheese – regular cheese is the second leading source of saturated fat in kids’ diets. You could skip the cheese altogether and pack low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese or calcium-fortified orange juice to obtain a significant source of calcium.
• Mayonnaise in moderation – better yet, use reduced fat mayo, salad dressing or margarine. Mustard is an even wiser choice with no fat or calories.
• Veggies – add nutritional value to your child’s sandwich by stacking on a slice of cucumber, romaine lettuce, pepper, tomato, or shredded carrots.

Keep your child’s lunch interesting by packing a variety of foods. Don’t pack sweets every day. Instead, pick a particular day each week (Friday’s are always good) to pack a surprise treat like chips, cookies or a cupcake. Or, give your child some change one day each week to buy a treat from the school cafeteria.

Can you believe it’s time for your kids to trade in their bathing suits for backpacks? The bell is about to ring on another school year – are you ready?                      

Some children are eager to return to the classroom. Some miss their friends, others miss the food. But, not every child has found a reason to be excited about school. It can be especially difficult for tweens.

Transitioning from summertime fun and freedom to classroom structure and stress can be a big adjustment. To help your tween handle the change, be positive and supportive. Here are a few suggestions that parents have shared with us that can make a difference in your child’s outlook:

• Be positive about school. Talk to your children about the good things that happen at school. Tell them about your positive experiences.
  
• Set the expectation that education is important and that your children need school. They should be made aware of your expectation as early as possible.
  
• Be understanding when they tell you about their frustrations. Expect your children to feel some stress related to subjects, tests, peers, assignments, and even teachers.
  
• Listen to what your kids tell you about school. Sometimes all they want is for you to hear about what their day was like and what’s going on in their lives. Be supportive and attentive.
  
• Visit the school. See what happens during the school day. Chat with administrators and teachers.
  
• Praise your children’s effort and their accomplishments.

These are just a few of the simple steps you can take to help your children start the new school year off on the right foot.          

KIDS DEVELOPMENT

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As summer approaches, most of us have picnics at the park, afternoons at the swimming pool and family vacations on our mind.  Even though August may seem far away—now is the time to start planning for the next school year.  Most schools require a physical exam within six months prior to entrance into kindergarten. 

School physicals are a great time to talk with your pediatrician about any health, development, or growth concerns you may have.  During your child’s kindergarten physical, your pediatrician will:

• Review his immunization record
• Check his height and weight
• Perform a full developmental assessment
• Screen your child’s vision and hearing
• Test his hemoglobin level
• Check a urine sample
• Perform a thorough physical exam
• Discuss safety issues
• Provide anticipatory guidance regarding nutrition, sleep, and behavior

You will receive a form from your school that you should bring to the appointment.  Your pediatrician will fill out the needed information regarding the physical exam and any health concerns regarding your child as well as attach your child’s immunization record.

It is a good idea to talk with your soon-to-be kindergartener before the exam so he knows what to expect.

Beyond kindergarten, your pediatrician will want to see your child at least every other year until adolescence and yearly during adolescence.  Your pediatrician will discuss any immunizations needed prior to seventh grade and upon graduation from high school.

Appointments for school physicals have a tendency to fill up fast so give your pediatrician a call well in advance. 

Summer break is a fun and busy time for many young children. With the longer daylight hours, children are able to extend playtime into the evening. Now that summer is coming to an end, parents may find it difficult to establish a bedtime routine for their little night owl.

Boys Town Pediatrics offer parents a few tips to help ease the transition from summer vacation to back to school:

Start setting boundaries, early. About a month before the first day of school, set a bedtime and wake-up time. Then slowly move this time back in 15 minute increments until you reach the appropriate times for your child.

Get your child use to morning activities. Plan your final summer activities in the mornings and early afternoons. Putting more emphasis on the mornings will help your child become accustom to doing activities during the day (when they would be in school) rather than at night time.

Keep a routine. Stay consistent with bed time and wake time, even on the weekends. This will help children adjust easier to the new schedule.

 Back to school time often means changes for children and families: the first day of kindergarten or first grade; new preschools or child care settings; new classrooms and new teachers. Making smooth transitions between home, programs and schools can help children feel good about themselves and teach them to trust other adults and children. Helping children adapt to new situations can ease parents' minds and give them a chance to become involved in their children's education.

Transitions are exciting opportunities for children to learn and grow. Parents and early childhood professionals share a role in making children feel safe and secure as they move to new educational settings. Of course, such milestones in children's lives can cause anxiety, too. Strengthening the ties between programs and families will help create smooth transitions for adults and children both.

How parents can help:

1. Be enthusiastic about the upcoming change. If you are excited and confident, your child will be, too.
2. Prepare yourself. Take note of how your child reacts to separation. If possible, visit the new setting with your child. Introduce your child to the new teacher or early childhood professional in advance.
3. Arrange a playdate with another child from the program, preferably one-on-one, so that your child will see a familiar face when she walks in.
4. Start daily routines that will add to continuity. Let your child become involved with packing lunch or laying out clothes. Also, begin an earlier bedtime several weeks before.
5. Put aside extra time, particularly on the first day, for chatting and commuting together. But remember not to prolong the good-bye. If the child whines or clings, staying will only make it harder.
6. Always say good-bye to your child. Be firm, but friendly about separating. Never ridicule a child for crying. Instead, make supportive statements like, "it's hard to say good-bye."
7. At the end of the work day, put aside your concerns and focus on being a parent.

How teachers or early childhood professionals can help:

1. Make sure activities are developmentally appropriate for children. Interesting and challenging, but doable, activities will help children feel comfortable in their new setting.
2. Make an effort to get to know each individual child as quickly as possible. Parents can provide information about children's likes, dislikes, and special interests.
3. Welcome suggestions from families, particularly those of children with special needs. Parents can offer specific suggestions they have found useful for their own child, and advise on classroom set-up and modifications.
4. Hold an orientation for children and parents. Small groups will make it easier for children to get to know each other.
5. Show children around the new school or program, introducing them to other adults who are there to help them become acclimated.
6. Create partnerships between pre-schools and elementary schools in the community. Meetings may focus on the sharing of ideas and concerns.
7. Set up an area for photos of parents and family members that children may "visit" throughout the day. Also include items that reflect the cultural experience of all children to help promote a sense of mutual respect and understanding. Children, just like adults, need time to adjust to new people and situations. Experience can make transition a bit easier, but even with experience, change can still be stressful. Patience and understanding on the part of parents and teachers or caregivers will help children learn how to approach new situations with confidence -- a skill that will help them make successful transitions all through life.

1. Back to School Tip #1: Organize Your Stuff

Nothing will make you feel more stressed or unprepared than scrambling to find a pencil in your mom's junk drawer three minutes before you leave for the first day of school.
Go shopping now!
Get the basic stuff you need well before school starts. Don't go too crazy, though. Remember, you'll probably be getting a list of supplies you'll need from your teachers. Stick with the basics.

2. Back to School Tip #2: Organize Your Schedule

Follow the time management rules, and get your schedule organized. School time is busy with practices, club meetings, a social life, and oh – homework and studying! Organize your schedule with my time management chart, scheduling in study and homework time, so you're prepared when those big tests pop up.

3. Back to School Tip #3: Plan for Disaster

Plans always end up getting changed, so plan for disaster. Your ride won't show up, your schedule will change in the middle of the year, the SAT class you signed up to take is full. If you plan on things not working out sometimes, you won't feel as flustered when things fall apart. Build in some extra weekend time to accommodate for missed plans.

4. Back to School Tip #4: Stay Calm

Stress will lead you straight to poor grades in school and lousy performances on tests. You have to practice some stress relief when you're sweating out a tough test, or trying to solve an unanswerable problem. The calmer you are, the better you'll do!

5. Back to School Tip #5: Surf the Web

flickr user Pink Sherbet

No, not just on Twitter or Facebook. Do a little research prior to school starting. Check out your school's homepage. Learn the layout of the school you'll be attending if you've transferred or are moving up to high school for the first time. Read your teacher's websites. Locate your schedule. Do a quick Google search on the some of the topics you'll be encountering in the upcoming year.
Most of all, prep for the major tests you'll be taking, if the SAT, PSAT or ACT is in your immediate future.

 

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