Tag Archives: school

MINIMIZING MORNING MADNESS

good-morningIt’s important to have effective morning routines so children get off to school without stress (theirs or yours!). Older children can help plan or be in charge of their own routines with your guidance.

Here are some specific ideas for minimizing morning madness on school days:

  • Prepare the night before. Make lunch, pack backpacks, and set out clothes.
  • Set up a launching pad—a place near the door for children’s backpacks, coats, shoes, hats and gloves so no time is wasted looking for these items.
  • Wake up at least half an hour before the kids. Shower, get dressed, have your coffee/breakfast, and be ready!
  • Have a reliable wake up system for the kids. An alarm clock or clock radio is good.
  • Stagger wake up times for the kids. Pre-teen and teenagers usually need more time to shower and groom.
  • Younger kids should bathe the night before to reduce bathroom congestion.
  • Have kids choose what they are wearing the night before. Limit choices and make sure everything is neat and clean.
  • Don’t rush the children! Make sure there is enough time to wash, dress, eat breakfast, comb hair and brush teeth. Start earlier if you need to.
  • Avoid turning on the TV. Kids can waste a lot of time watching TV or playing. These activities can be permitted only if they are completely ready for school.
  • Don’t skip breakfast! Hungry kids can’t concentrate in school.
  • Remind kids to use the bathroom just before leaving for school. Lots of kids don’t like to use the school bathroom.
  • Wish the kids a great day. Give them each a hug!

THE BACKPACK– Keeping it Organized

backpack
The back pack is very important to review every day. It is one of the important links between school and home. Backpacks quickly become disorganized and notices missed if not emptied every day. Here is a suggested daily routine that you can follow, or supervise your host children as they do it, depending on their age(s):
1. After the student arrives home, empty the backpack on a table.
2. Find the homework. Set it out in the homework area with all the supplies needed to complete the homework.
3. Put the lunch box in the kitchen. Empty it, discard the garbage, and see if the child actually ate the lunch that was packed. Wipe out the lunch box. Let the parents know what was not eaten.
4. Find all notices sent home with the child. Find anything that needs to be filled out by the parents. If it is your responsibility to keep track of activities, put them on the calendar now. If not, make sure the parents see them.
5. Make sure permission slips, fundraiser notices, book orders, photo notices and anything else that must be signed is done on time. Make sure these items get back in the backpack and the child turns them in on time. If a signed form and money is still in the back pack when the child comes home, the child forgot to give it to the teacher. Remind the child, tell the parent.
6. All completed homework should be put in the homework folder in the backpack as soon as the homework is completed. Make sure there is a sturdy folder to put the homework in; this way the child knows where it is when he or she arrives at school, and the homework will stay neater 🙂
7. In the morning, recheck for homework. Is it in the folder? Are all permission slips and notices requiring money in the backpack?
8. Make lunch and put the lunch box in the backpack. If the lunch box is in the backpack there is less chance it will be left on the bus.
9. Does the child need to bring anything else to school that day? Maybe he or she needs gym clothes, or something for show and tell. Put it in the backpack!
10. At the end of the week, make sure all work sent home is placed out for the parents to see. Any dirty gym clothes are taken out of the backpack and put in the laundry. The back pack and the lunch box should be wiped out and kept clean!

School is Starting – Be Safe at the Bus Stop

SchoolBus1. Be on time to the bus stop so that you and your host kids get there safely.

2. Walk and hold hands to the stop.

3. Stand on the sidewalk or the grass, not in the street.

4. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before the children walk to the door.

5. Let the bus driver open the door. Do not try to push it open.

6. Remind the children to sit on the bus and not stand. If there are seat belts, remind them to put them on.

7. Let the bus leave before you do, just in case there is a problem.

8. Be at the afternoon return bus stop in plenty of time, before it comes. There are times when it will be early.

9. The driver is not allowed to let small children off the bus unless someone greets them, so if you are not there the children will be taken back to school. BE THERE.

10. The bus driver will not leave until you are safely on your side of the street, so if you need to cross the street, do it in front of the bus.

Back to School

SchoolBusSchool is back in session and fall is in the air.

Transitioning from lazy summer days to homework and activity filled days can cause stress for even the most organized households.  To ease the transition for au pairs and the children, its important to discuss changes in schedules, duties, and routines.

Our Community Counselor for the New Orleans area wrote a great post about getting ready for school with your au pair:

Host parents should take the time to review the following:

  • Au pair’s schedule
  • The children’s schedule, including school and extracurricular activities
  • Breakfast routine and types of healthy food to serve
  • What to pack for lunch
  • What to do when a child is staying home sick
  • What to do when a child is late for school
  • After school routine (snacks and free time before starting homework)
  • Designated spot for school bags, lunch boxes and papers that need parent’s signature
  • After-school playdates (who can schedule, where the children can go, etc)

If the au pair drives children to and from school, it’s important to discuss:

  • Buckling seat belts securely
  • Lining up in a car queue
  • Making sure children get on/off on the right side of the car
  • Holding a young child’s hand in the parking lot
  • NEVER leaving a child in the car when dropping off a sibling
  • Observing 20 mph speed limit in school zones
  • Never passing a school bus when it shows a stop sign

Happy Back to School from Au Pair in America!!