How to Get Your Grandchild Excited About Going Back to School

It’s that time of year again—school time—a new beginning for your grandchild with new friends, teachers, classes and activities. Some children get very excited about going back to school and others start to get jittery about four weeks before school starts. You can help your grandchild manage over-excitement or get motivated to tackle the new school year by taking these 9 steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• School Age Grandchildren
• Assorted School Supplies
• Note Paper and Pen
• Car, Gas and Money
• Encouragement and Love

1. School Supplies Four weeks before the end of summer vacation, make a list of all the items that will be needed for the new school year. Include pencils, paper, erasers and the usual school supplies; but also make a wish list of toiletries, clothing, shoes or accessories your grandchild would like to have to start the new school year.
2. Shopping Make an adventure out of shopping for the things on your list. Spend a day or two looking for bargains with your grandchild and discussing your purchases and how they will be used throughout the school year. Enjoy a special breakfast, lunch and/or dinner to take a break from all the shopping and reminisce about your annual back-to-school experiences.
3. Summer Memories Three weeks before school starts help your grandchild make a scrapbook of summer memories collected from various activities like a day at the beach or picnics in the park. The scrapbook will come in handy for “show and tell” during the first few weeks of school.
4. Books Review any reading lists or other assignments that were given at the end of the previous school year to make sure your grandchild has completed each task. Become a willing audience that encourages your grandchild to share what he or she has read. Ask questions and interact as much as possible.
5. Write Letters Two weeks before opening day get your grandchild to write simple notes to all of his or her friends. Purchase some fancy fun notepaper or cards and have him or her hand write and mail a sentence or two about how much he or she is looking forward to returning to school and spending time with each friend (no email please).
6. Practice Writing Find other projects your grandchild can do to practice writing such as starting a back-to-school journal or creating short stories and poems.
7. Build Excitement One week before the first day of school start a campaign to build excitement about new classmates, subjects to learn and new teachers. Encourage your grandchild to find out as much information as possible about what he or she can expect to learn this year in school, and what the teacher(s) will be like.
8. The evening before school starts give your grandchild a big hug to express how much you love and adore him or her. Let your grandchild know that you will support and help as much as is needed.
9. Offer Support The evening of the first day, ask your grandchild to share his or her perceptions about school and offer tender support as needed. Periodically follow up with how things are going at school over the next few months, and keep in touch throughout the school year.