Getting into swing of school

o7This week we asked our parent panelists: The school year is

starting. How should parents help their children get back into the

swing of school?f7

One of the most important things I do to is to get organized

myself. A master calendar and a file-folder system for important

papers help maintain order in the chaos.

I plan to join the PTA, go to back-to-school night, meet my

daughter’s teachers, read the books she brings home and keep the TV

off during the week.

This year, I have pledged to be on time, get things ready the

night before and serve healthy food, with family dinners planned

several nights a week. Home for my kids should be a quiet refuge,

especially in the evening when they need to relax and study.

In the ‘80s, I read David Elkind’s “The Hurried Child.” Its

insight into stressed-out children and parents helped me slow things

down a bit. To minimize what Elkind called “achievement overload,” I

was thoughtful about their studies, sports, friends, entertainment

and extracurricular activities, which could affect their emotional

health.

Now, 25 years later, there are just too many things that intrude

into our lives and override attempts to keep life simple and enjoy

our children.

As a conscientious parent, I am always trying to stay ahead of

what inappropriate influences might tempt my children and lead them

astray. There are two books that help address these challenges: “It

Takes a Parent” by Betsy Hart, and “Home Invasion: Protecting Your

Family in a Culture That’s Gone Stark Raving Mad” by Rebecca Hagelin.

The hurricane disaster causes me to admit my home and family are

unprepared -- physically, emotionally and spiritually -- for even a

minor disaster. In addition to my regular duties as parent, my

homework assignment is to stop procrastinating about life-saving

measures I can implement.

Knowing life will be very busy, I plan to make a special effort to

stop the hurrying, to be a good listener when my children want to

talk, and to plan special family moments and celebrations. It’s a

tall order, and I know I can’t do all this without God’s help, so I

plan to pray more too.

* WENDY LEECE is a Costa Mesa parent, former school board member

and member of the city’s parks and recreation commission.

It’s important to get a fast start. The first few days of school

are usually pretty easy, at least academically. There isn’t much

homework and the classroom assignments are pretty lightweight.

This can help contribute to a casual attitude toward the

schoolwork and the idea that students still have a few weeks to go

before things get serious. Kids should be encouraged to get out in

front of the work as much as possible during those easy first weeks.

If there’s not a lot of homework, it’s a great time to get ahead

on the reading. If your kids don’t know right away what they’ll be

required to read during the year, ask the teachers to provide reading

lists.

Apart from staying on top academically, I don’t think kids need

too much help to get into the swing of school. Most kids are happy to

be in school, happy to see all their friends, curious to see how

things have changed. They come in with a positive attitude.

Parents and teachers should do what they can to maintain that

initial enthusiasm and momentum.

* Mark Gleason is a Costa Mesa resident and parent.