#Parents aspiring to minimalism (or at least hoping to keep chaos at a minimum) will want to #organize anything that comes home at the end of the #school year and prepare for the next, says Your Mom Village. Have your #kids empty their backpacks and sort out the supplies. Broken crayons and used-up pencils and pens can go in the trash; notebooks can be saved if they still have lots of unused sheets left. Group useful items together for storage — and into bins labeled by child, if necessary — until the #fall. Launder the backpacks, and start shopping for any #school supplies you’ll need in the fall to beat the #back-to-school rush. #SchoolsOut
Tag: school’s out
Track End-of-Year School Events to Avoid Conflicts
Add any end-of-year, school-related events such as concerts, play performances, graduations and parent-teacher nights to the family calendar to avoid conflicts this month, says Engage the Brain. Incentivize one last push ahead of final exams and projects. Gather borrowed equipment and books to return, and complete any paperwork needed for your child to continue at the same school or transfer in the fall. Arrange summer camp or learning experiences for a younger child; get teens to file applications for a summer job (and perhaps start looking into higher education). Finally, celebrate the end of a successful #school year with a party or outing. #SchoolsOut
Count Down the Days Until Summer Vacation
Young children might appreciate a countdown to the end of the #school year, says Scholastic, to help them see the transition as a positive and prepare for it. If your child is changing classrooms or schools, try to schedule a visit so that they can get an idea of what’s ahead. You may also wish to schedule summer play dates with school friends in order to maintain connections, and have your child make a card thanking the teacher for their work, assuming the experience was positive. You can also ask for a reading list or suggestions for activities that will help keep your child’s learning fresh for the fall. #SchoolsOut
Help Kids Navigate the End of the School Year
The end of the #school year can be hectic for children. There are tests to cram for and special assemblies, and big events like prom and graduation for the high schoolers. Whatever their age, they’re transitioning out of the structure of the school and may have mixed feelings about leaving even though summer fun awaits. Parents can help by being present and attentive, says Psychology Today. Encourage younger kids to reflect on their successes and sustain them throughout the summer, while celebrating the rite of passage by recognizing achievements and keeping routines consistent.
Contain Distance Learning in a Dedicated Space
Thanks to a dramatic push to get people vaccinated against the #coronavirus, schools may be able to reopen in the fall. Until then, however, parents will continue to deal with the #clutter and #chaos of at-home learning — papers, screens and projects that ordinarily might be confined to the a classroom. Design your remote learning space to contain everything the child needs to learn, the Khan Academy suggests. Make sure that the workspace has good lighting, no distractions and is comfortable enough for extended sessions of screen-based study.