Ten Tips for a Successful School Year

Parents send their children back to school with new clothes, new shoes and new school supplies. Smart parents send their kids back with a new commitment to work hard and make the most out of the new school year.

Here are Such A Smart Mom’s Top 10 Tips for a Successful School Year:

1. Start strong.

There is nothing more frustrating than having your child dig a deep, dark hole by sleep-walking through the first weeks of school. Make sure you and your kids are tanned, rested and ready for the new year.

2. Instill a sense of responsibility from the youngest age.

Teaching your kids to do their homework is like teaching them to drive. Hands-on help is needed in the beginning, but you methodically transfer knowledge and responsibility to the student driver.

When your child is young, teach them how to stay on top of homework. And monitor it to make sure it’s done correctly. But as they progress through the grades, make sure they take on more responsibility for getting the work done. This is especially true in transition years from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school. By the time your child reaches high school, she should be organized enough to keep track of homework and tests.

Such A Smart Mom loves the wisdom of Foster Cline and Jim Fay, authors of “Parenting with Love & Logic.” They advise parents that if they want to raise responsible children, they need to give them responsibilities. They may not become responsible overnight, but let them try, try again until practice makes perfect. You can learn more about their approach in this article.

3. Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and healthy food.

How much sleep do kids (and adults) need nightly? The National Sleep Foundation recommends that children ages 5-11 need 10 to 11 hours, while kids 12 to 17 need 8.5 to 9.25 hours. And parents need between 7 and 9 hours.

For great tips on a healthy diet for kids, take a look at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ sections on nutrition and obesity.

4. Set aside a time and place for homework.

Make homework a part of your family’s daily routine. Set a time and a place that works for your child. It could be right after school or after you get home from work. Homework can be done at the kitchen table or at a special desk. For convenience, keep schools supplies, including pencils, markers and gluesticks, close at hand.

How much homework should you expect? As a general rule, in early elementary school grades you should plan on 15 to 30 minutes a night, including time for reading. Late elementary, you can count on 30 to 50 minutes a night. Middle schoolers can expect 60 to 90 minutes, and high schoolers can plan on 90 minutes or more per night.

5. Stay organized.

Keep a list or calendar of when homework is due and tests are scheduled. Use a whiteboard or a simple sheet of paper affixed to the refrigerator door.

When your child is young, you may need to be the keeper of the list, but make sure to work with your child to take on this responsibility as she matures. Middle school and high school students should have organizers that are filled in daily. If this isn’t happening, smart parents will work with their until they master this skill.

6. Set a good example.

If you want your child to spend time reading and working on assignments, turn off the TV and music and do something constructive while he’s working. Grab a book and read, finish some work you’ve brought home or get a jump on dinner.

7. Stay active and in touch with your child’s school.

Children whose parents work closely with their school tend to do better than children with parents who take a hands-off approach. If you have time, volunteer to help at your child’s school. It speaks volumes about the value you place on education.

Most importantly, stay in touch with your child’s teacher(s) through phone calls or emails. Most schools have Web sites loaded with great information. And some teachers have pages on those sites. Check the sites regularly.

Monitor grades and don’t be shy about asking for help if your child is struggling. The earlier, the better. The school will welcome your interest.

8. Limit TV and video games and find time for unorganized fun.

Set ground rules about electronics, perhaps no TV until the homework is done and no video games during the school week.

Resist the urge to over subscribe your child with extracurriculars. Kids need time to be kids.

9. Praise hard work.

Such A Smart Mom is a huge fan of Stanford University professor Carol Dweck and her message: If you want to raise smart kids, start by not telling them they’re smart. Praise their hard work and not their intelligence. You can learn more about Dr. Dweck in this article.

10. Talk about your child’s education.

Kids tend to live in the here and now and may not understand the long-term importance of getting a great education. That’s were parents come in. Talk to your kids about why they need to work hard. And encourage big dreams. Does your child want to be a teacher or a doctor or an architect? Encourage those dreams, but make sure he understands what it will take to make that dream a reality.