Saying Goodbye to Summer

Who wants a rigorous routine of early bedtimes and homework assignments after three months of campouts and beach trips? Your kids may need a few gentle nudges to get back into the school spirit! Here are some tips that may help:

• Together, take stock of last year’s school supplies and decide what to keep and what needs replacing. When you go shopping, let the kids choose which color folders and notebooks they want.

• Go through clothes that are too small and come up with a list of new items your kids need. Shop several weeks before school starts to avoid large crowds and long lines in stores.

• Start a “Back to School” bedtime and wake-up schedule to get them used to waking up earlier.

• During devotions or bedtime prayer, talk about the anxieties your kids may have about returning to school, and pray with them about their worries.

• Have a “Back to School” bash with your family. Plan a special party or family activity to celebrate the end of a great summer and the beginning of a wonderful school year!