A Successful School Year Starts Now

After months away from school and homework, it's time for parents to help their children prepare for class.

A successful school year, according to Dr. Andrea Pastorok, an educational specialist with Kumon Math & Reading Centers, can depend on how smooth a child transitions from vacation.

Dr. Pastorok suggests the following tips for a successful route back-to-school.

• Focus on the Positives. Talk to your children about their summer accomplishments and recognize the skills they used to be successful, such as perseverance, time-management, responsibility and independence, which are the same skills that will help them succeed in school.
• Give your child genuine and frequent praise. Praise your child's progress, not perfection. Let them know that you believe in them, you think they are special and you have confidence in them. Let your child know that you recognize and value their efforts not just their final accomplishments.
• Set up a study area for your child. It should be quiet (no TV or stereo), well-ventilated, free of distractions (no phones, pets), well-lit and equipped with all necessary supplies for the child (pens, paper, markers, dictionary, thesaurus).
• Establish a consistent homework routine at the very beginning. Schedule daily homework time in your house so it becomes a part of your family's routine. This also helps children to see that homework is a priority in your home.
• Make time to get acquainted with your child's teachers and keep the communication open. Discuss goal-setting with both your child and the teacher. This parent-teacher-child partnership will be very effective in the development of healthy homework habits which will in turn help children have a successful school year.

Since 1958 Kumon Math and Reading Centers has helped children strengthen math and reading skills, increase self-confidence and develop study skills that last a lifetime. Today, Kumon is currently helping more than three million children in 43 countries.

To help children reach their goals, parents may want to enroll them in an after-school educational program.

Courtesy of NAPS

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