Starting a New School Year
The anticipation of going back to school is often met with conflicting feelings of eagerness and trepidation. It is important that we support our children through this time of feeling excited and perhaps nervous, by ensuring that their world is safe and has some predictability. Research shows that when children come to school calm, focused, and alert, they are ready to engage in the variety of learning experiences awaiting them. So, what is it that we can do to ensure that our children are ready for learning?
- Ensure your child has a regular bedtime routine. Allow calming activities before going to bed, like reading, taking a bath, or talking together, so your child can relax. Often watching TV or playing video games do not calm children. Children need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep a night.
- Eat nutritious foods at meal times and for snacks. Children expend a lot of energy throughout their day. Eating foods high in sugar leads to a drop in energy that can result in tired, lethargic, and often grumpy kids, who will have difficulty concentrating. Breakfast, the most important meal of the day, gets our bodies ready for learning and playing. Visit www.healthyalberta.ca for information on healthy foods, healthy lifestyles, and many recipes.
- Encourage daily physical activity. Playing outside after school or after supper is a great way for kids to re-charge and to exercise their bodies.
- Spend time together. Children relish the positive attention we give to them. Play together, talk together and enjoy just being together. Be there to support your child working through problems that may be challenging. Listen to their concerns, frustrations, and their excitements. Acknowledge their achievements and encourage the small steps they make in their learning.
Throughout the year children will face many challenges as they grow and change. Providing a safe environment that has routines and rules, gives them the security they need to take risks and be successful at school.
Character Education
The focus of our character education this year is Friendship: treating others the way you want to be treated.
From September through January, we will concentrate on teaching skills that show respect for others. The topics we will cover are:
- Introducing yourself to another
- Talking with a friend
- beginning the conversation
- listening to another
- ending the conversation - Joining in with others
- Playing a game
- Offering to help another person
- Asking a favor
- Giving a complement
- Accepting a complement
- Suggesting an activity
- Sharing
- Apologizing
From February through June, we will concentrate on teaching skills that help students to be responsible for themselves in a friendship, with an emphasis on doing what is right, being accountable to yourself and to others. Topics covered will be:
- Following rules
- Being honest
- Ignoring distractions
- Completing assignments
- Dealing with your anger
- Dealing with another's anger
- Dealing with disappointment
- Dealing with being left out
- Dealing with group pressure
- Making a decision
Family and Community Services Fall Workshop
Family and Community Services have just sent out their new Fall Workshop schedule. There are excellent courses offered for children on building self-esteem and strengthening social skills. They also offer groups for teens and a number of parent courses. Check out their website at http://www.strathcona.ca/departments/Family_and_Community_Services/counselling-groups.aspx
Safety on the Internet
More and more we are using the internet to expand our knowledge, be entertained, play games and chat with others. While this is exciting and opens up a whole new world to us, as parents and teachers, we need to ensure that our children are safe while online. Recently I have been exploring a new website, "The Door that's not Locked" found at www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca. This website raises awareness about things kids are doing online and discusses the risks associated with the internet. In a very user friendly format, many tips and safety strategies are provided for parents, teachers and kids. I highly recommend it for everyone.
Recently I was sent several copies of Safety and the Internet: A parent's guide for children ages 8 & 9 and ages 10-12 in print form from "the Door that's not Locked". If you are interested in a copy, please drop by my office.
