Whether it’s a late-night dash to find the required binder—due tomorrow—or your child’s tears over a tough new teacher, starting back to school can increase stress for your whole family. Consider these suggestions for managing that stress now and throughout the school year.
Establish a routine
As a military family, you likely appreciate how routines and orderly schedules can reduce stress. If you find that school mornings are hectic or your children are neglecting their schoolwork, take some time to consider your routines. Consistent schedules for bedtime and waking, doing homework, preparing school lunches, getting clothes ready, etc. eliminate considerable stress.
Be prepared
With your family routines in place, take steps early to minimize the stress that schoolwork can cause for everyone. Consider these suggestions:
- Make sure you have contact information for your child’s teachers and counselor.
- Designate a homework station and stock it with supplies.
- Look at any course descriptions or other class information the teacher hands out. If you see that projects are in the plans, have supplies such as poster board, glue sticks and markers ready early.
- Post a large calendar at home that helps you all keep track of tests, projects, school events and extra-curricular activities.
Touch base often
Whether your child is in kindergarten or high school, frequent conversations about what is happening at school may help keep you alert to trouble with a subject or with a teacher, peer pressure, bullying and other school stressors. Rather than ask your child “How was school?” try this conversation prompter at dinner: Have everyone tell each other two things they really enjoyed about their day at school, work or home, and two things they did not like.
Take care of your health
Keep in mind that routines and preparedness reduce stress, but cannot eliminate it altogether. To minimize the impact of stress on your family’s health, try to help everyone:
- Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Exercise regularly.
- Allow time for relaxation and fun.
Whether it’s a late-night dash to find the required binder—due tomorrow—or your child’s tears over a tough new teacher, starting back to school can increase stress for your whole family. Consider these suggestions for managing that stress now and throughout the school year.
Establish a routine
As a military family, you likely appreciate how routines and orderly schedules can reduce stress. If you find that school mornings are hectic or your children are neglecting their schoolwork, take some time to consider your routines. Consistent schedules for bedtime and waking, doing homework, preparing school lunches, getting clothes ready, etc. eliminate considerable stress.
Be prepared
With your family routines in place, take steps early to minimize the stress that schoolwork can cause for everyone. Consider these suggestions:
- Make sure you have contact information for your child’s teachers and counselor.
- Designate a homework station and stock it with supplies.
- Look at any course descriptions or other class information the teacher hands out. If you see that projects are in the plans, have supplies such as poster board, glue sticks and markers ready early.
- Post a large calendar at home that helps you all keep track of tests, projects, school events and extra-curricular activities.
Touch base often
Whether your child is in kindergarten or high school, frequent conversations about what is happening at school may help keep you alert to trouble with a subject or with a teacher, peer pressure, bullying and other school stressors. Rather than ask your child “How was school?” try this conversation prompter at dinner: Have everyone tell each other two things they really enjoyed about their day at school, work or home, and two things they did not like.
Take care of your health
Keep in mind that routines and preparedness reduce stress, but cannot eliminate it altogether. To minimize the impact of stress on your family’s health, try to help everyone:
- Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Exercise regularly.
- Allow time for relaxation and fun.
Whether it’s a late-night dash to find the required binder—due tomorrow—or your child’s tears over a tough new teacher, starting back to school can increase stress for your whole family. Consider these suggestions for managing that stress now and throughout the school year.
Establish a routine
As a military family, you likely appreciate how routines and orderly schedules can reduce stress. If you find that school mornings are hectic or your children are neglecting their schoolwork, take some time to consider your routines. Consistent schedules for bedtime and waking, doing homework, preparing school lunches, getting clothes ready, etc. eliminate considerable stress.
Be prepared
With your family routines in place, take steps early to minimize the stress that schoolwork can cause for everyone. Consider these suggestions:
- Make sure you have contact information for your child’s teachers and counselor.
- Designate a homework station and stock it with supplies.
- Look at any course descriptions or other class information the teacher hands out. If you see that projects are in the plans, have supplies such as poster board, glue sticks and markers ready early.
- Post a large calendar at home that helps you all keep track of tests, projects, school events and extra-curricular activities.
Touch base often
Whether your child is in kindergarten or high school, frequent conversations about what is happening at school may help keep you alert to trouble with a subject or with a teacher, peer pressure, bullying and other school stressors. Rather than ask your child “How was school?” try this conversation prompter at dinner: Have everyone tell each other two things they really enjoyed about their day at school, work or home, and two things they did not like.
Take care of your health
Keep in mind that routines and preparedness reduce stress, but cannot eliminate it altogether. To minimize the impact of stress on your family’s health, try to help everyone:
- Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Exercise regularly.
- Allow time for relaxation and fun.