NANA SAYS BACK TO SCHOOL CAN BE MANAGED

Back to school brings some stress and anxiety for children and parents if one lets it happen. Transitions are always difficult but can be managed. There are tips and strategies and advice from the "experts" abounding right now. Turn on the TV and the discussion begins. So take a breath- remember it is just getting used to the same old routine. Two months ago, everyone stressed about planning for the summer. Yes August did include organizing the lessons for the year. But who said you needed to plan so much? Only put the amount of stress on yourself that you can handle and stop comparing what other parents are doing! Does your child need to do everything or can you priortize and take on some of the learning yourself. Power skating is great but does a four year need it or can you do some family recreational time, teaching the little one to skate! Remember the new school routine will be a routine in a week or two. There will be needed breaks in the school year. Let's face it-back to school is really a relief! The school day uses a huge chunk of time that parents do not have to plan. Perhaps it is the same reason so many lessons are planned. Someone else does the work while complaints are made about how busy, busy, busy one becomes! Let's face it there is a badge of honour about who can complain about being the busiest! I remember one year 5 days out of 7 had a lesson of some kind for my children. I realized that it was necessary to expose my children to a variety of activities but it was my choice! So with choices does come some commitment! So can less is more also be a choice and stop worrying about the other parents who are worried they want their children to have a leg up over your children. Back to school brings enough work for everyone! Can you plan activities and lessons around the needs of your own family rather than the competition of who does more? Remember I too did the lesson thing, the homework thing, made the lunches thing etc. When approached with some calm and constructive planning and breathing spaces it can be managed. The first week of school- well this too shall pass! Approach it with stress or just approach it as another transition that can be managed! Your choice!