Back to School Rituals

As the 2018-2019 school year begins, we want our children to perform at their peak performance. Parents can help by providing the environment children need to be top notch students. The best thing parents can do is to provide daily rituals designed for peak school performance.

First, establish parameters. Kids work best with daily rituals that include a set schedule. For example, homework should be done prior to dinner. After dishes are stacked away, spend time with your children. Check their homework, then click off the TV and play games, read together, or just sit around the fireplace and chat. Pamela Volker, head mistress at the Warren Walker School in San Diego says, “Share in the school experience by discussing topics of study at the dinner table.” Find something to praise your child about so you set him up to get your attention in positive ways.

Second, make sure your students get the shut-eye they need. Without the daily school ritual of proper sleep, children will show short term memory problems, become hyperactive, irritable, lack attentiveness, show delayed response time, and could bring home poor grades. To avoid these problems, make sure your 6 to 9-year-old gets ten hours of sleep; 10 to 12- year-old children need at least nine hours of rest, and your teen should snooze at least eight to nine hours per night.

Here’s the hard part—wake up before the kids and make sure they get a healthy breakfast. Science teacher Alysson Abella says, “Children should eat a breakfast including fruit, healthy cereal with low fat milk. Whole wheat toast, peanut butter, fresh juice, and eggs will give children energy to focus on their studies and lead to physical and emotional well-being.” Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and is an important ingredient to your child’s daily ritual.

Before your child heads out the door, inquire about what he’ll be doing in class. This forces him to focus on the previous day’s work so his mind is ready for his new lessons. Math teacher John Rick says, “Pack him a healthy lunch with enough nutrition to keep him going throughout the day.”

If you want your children to be successful in school, you need to enforce a daily ritual that encourages education by following through on all school homework assignments. Make sure your child goes to sleep on time, gets a nutritious breakfast, and always pack a power lunch daily.

Michael Thal is the award winning author of Goodbye Tchaikovskyand Koolura and the Mayans.