The first day of school. What will this year bring? Maybe tricky math concepts will suddenly click and your son will find out he really does like math. Or your daughter will light up when she reads her first book all by herself. This could be the year when a favorite sport is discovered, a shy student gains new confidence, a love of art or music is revealed… or if your child is really lucky, a best friend is made.
If you’re sending a preschooler off for their very first day, you’ll want to make sure the experience involves more smiles than tears. Try reading Pumped Up for Preschool for a few tips to make this big day a success. And if you have a kindergartener attending school all day for the first time, you might be having mixed feelings about this new phase of independence. It’s not unusual for parents to struggle a bit during this transition – take a look at Empty Nest Syndrome: Kindergarten Version for some advice on making this adjustment.
With the kids back in school, a new window of opportunity may open to spend time on something just for you. Is there an activity, class or creative endeavor you’ve been hoping to try? Go for it! Check out A Mission for Mom Time for a list of local opportunities to look into.
Now is also the time to think about what your kids will be doing after the school day ends. Our article on Cool After School Activities and our After School Enrichment Guide give some great ideas for unique things to do you may not have thought of before.
There’s so much more in this special “Back to School” Issue, you’ll just have to turn the page to find out! As the new school year approaches, we wish all your families a great first day – here’s to outfits that everyone agrees on, school supplies not yet lost, lunches that actually get eaten and big happy hugs when your student hops off the bus!
