It is officially back to school week in the Sioux Empire, and that means parents and students will be adjusting to some new schedules. Health officials out there say routine is key in ensuring a healthy school year. Avera Family Life Educator Denise Anderson sat down with Dakota News Now to talk all things back to school.
What are some things that families should be doing to get ready for back to school?
Yeah, well, if they haven't started already, which I hope that they have, and one thing that they can do is start by getting the kids this routine set. Getting them to bed early or getting them up earlier, so they're ready for that schedule once school hits. Because if they don't, it's going to be a shock to their system. If they're all of a sudden getting up at 6 a.m. and have to be in the car by 7 and into school by 7:30 or 8 a.m., or that sort of thing. So they need to adjust that routine. They need to make sure that they've got everything ready, like their vaccinations and their lunch things at school. Do they know if they're going to be bringing their lunch or having lunch at school? Has the lunch meal been purchased, that sort of thing. Do they know where they're going to be picked up and dropped off if they're taking the bus? Getting a ride? All those sorts of things are things kids need to know ahead of time. So when it comes to that first day of school, for the first timers, you know, maybe are going to kindergarten for the first time. There's a lot as a parent emotionally that could be going on.
How do you advise parents to handle that first day of school drop-off?
Yeah, I wish I would have known some of the things that I know now, because I think so many parents go and they just don't want to let their baby go or they stand there and they cry or they videotape the whole thing. And then they don't want to leave. But one good thing to know is that you should cut off your goodbyes. Not harsh, not strict, but just make it firm so that they know you're coming back. But yet you want them to know that they're going to be okay and you're going to go be okay. And maybe tell them what you're going to do, if they're kindergartners or young kids, and say it's okay, Mom is going to go spend time with grandma today or something like that so that they'll know that you're going to go do that and then come back and get them and say, I'll be back after school. Or for maybe a middle school student just tell them, you know, go smile at someone today, go make someone smile or have a good day or good luck or make good choices, like I used to say, that sort of thing, you know, because it is all different for different ages. You can come up with different things, which is something positive. That's the key.
Students face difficulties and anxiety with the new school year, What are some of the things that parents can look out for?
One of the things I guess you can look out for typically are if kids get an upset stomach. I know I was one of those kids. I always had an upset stomach when I was a little girl, but that is one of the general things. If your kids getting upset, stomach sick all the time, that sort of thing, or if they're acting out, if they just don't know how to act and they just seem out of sorts, that sort of thing or they're getting angry for no reason, Those are good signs that something is bothering them and you just need to be there to listen and have an open ear and an open mind, not question them, not drill them, but just be there for them.
