Back to School Basics: Helping Your Child Get Ready for School

It's that time of year again! It's time for your kids to go back to school! By this time, most kids have had enough of summer vacation and are ready to go back, but at the same time they can be a little hesitant about starting school again. Give your children the reassurance and support they may need to return to school.

For youth transitioning to middle school or high school, there's the challenge of a completely new environment. Even those returning to the same school have new teachers, classmates, schoolwork, and expectations. Encourage your children to share their doubts or excitement about school with you. Try to relate to how your children are feeling by sharing your own back-to-school experiences with them.

Here are some tips to help your children get ready for school:

• Accompany your children to get school supplies. Give them a budget, but let them find and pick out their own materials. This shows them that you have trust in their judgment.
• Ask your children to try on their clothes from last year. This way you can see what does and does not fit. Then take them clothes shopping for items that no longer fit them.
• Sometimes children need physical exams at the beginning of the school year. Make sure you schedule an appointment with your child's doctor, if this is needed.
• Bring any school forms to your child's doctor to be filled out. Also make sure any school forms are properly filled out and returned to your child's school.

Starting a new school year is a very exciting time for children. It's important that you address any concerns your children might have. It's also a good idea to familiarize your kids with their bus schedules and after-school activities. Getting your kids ready for school early can help them start the year off right!

What to do if your child does not want to go back to school

As we get closer to the beginning of school, many parents will face children who do not want to go back to school. It is a sad fact that Latino youth have a disproportionately high drop-out rate. Here are some tips that can help:

• Talk to your child: Find out what is causing him or her to want to leave school.
• Focus on the positive: Help your child understand that a high school education is the basic requirement for entry into any professional career. A high school diploma will open doors for them in terms of future educational or employment opportunities.
• Give them the facts: Research several professions. For each profession, find out how much the starting salary is and how much the professional earns after several years in the workforce. With your child, compare those two figures for each profession and talk about the benefits of choosing a career with opportunities for advancement. Sometimes young people do not know what they want to do. Observe them and help channel their interests.
• Focus on the positive, not the negative: Some parents try to motivate their children by using negative examples. For example, they say, "you don't want to grow up to be like me," or "I don't want to see you doing xyz as your career." It is far more effective to focus on the positive aspects of what the child will attain if he or she stays in school.
• Talk to your child's counselor or teacher: It always is important to have a good relationship with your child's teachers and counselors. Talk to them and let them know about your child's interest in leaving school and ask them for help.
• Find a mentor: Having a mentor for your child is always a good idea, especially during critical moments. Connect your child with people who enjoy what they do and can spend some time sharing their work or school experience. For more information about finding a mentor, check out the National Mentoring Partnership at http://www.mentoring.org/.

There are many avenues to success and many professions that can be fulfilling for your child. If your child has an entrepreneurial spirit, encourage it!