Back to School – A Guide to the First Day

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Epic Classical Academy

ONE WEEK UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS?!?! Are YOU and your child ready?

School starts a little earlier this year. Here are a few EPIC tips to help you and your child stay on track and ensure that this school year starts off with confidence and success!!

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Reading

Read to your child nightly before bed, and at a level above their own reading capability. Students can understand at a much higher level than they can comprehend in those early years. Read for about 15-30 minutes each night. Doing this will build your child’s reading and critical thinking skills, their love for reading and reinforce your bond.

Last Minute Field Trip

Despite the plans that we have at the start of the summer, many of us fail to follow through. Rectify this with a last minute field trip. It doesn’t have to be far. Checking out a local park or museum will give your child something to smile and tell their friends about going into the school year. For last minute ideas, check out our summer bucket list.

Plan Extracurricular Activities

It’s easy to over-commit to school activities. Between tutoring, sports, dance, music, karate, and social activities, we sometimes schedule our lives with too many expectations, leading to stress and feeling unsuccessful. Be mindful of this, and have a discussion as a family about time priorities during the school year. You may find that your perceptions differ from theirs. Be realistic as you make extracurricular plans, so that committing to them is easy and stress-free.

School Shopping

Back to School shopping flyers are everywhere and the tax-free weekend is coming up on August 5th-7th. Unfortunately, that’s the weekend before school begins!! It’s going to be a busy weekend! So rather than waiting until the last minute, go online and download your child’s school supply list now.

Regulate Sleep Schedules

If you are like most families, the sleep routine is less stringent in the summer time. However, adjusting to getting up earlier can be painful, both physically and mentally. By slowly adjusting your child’s bedtime and waking time, the change will be less painful. According to SleepSisters.com, a child between the ages of 3-6 needs 11-13 hours of sleep. Ideally, children this age should be in bed between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Children ages 7-12 need 10-11 hours of sleep, so bedtime should occur between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. Children need advance warning when something new is coming or an activity will be ending. Set an alarm 30 minutes before you expect the child to be in bed. Give another 15-minute notice or as many minutes as the child needs developmentally. By gradually adjusting towards the ideal bedtime and waking up earlier a little each day, the body will adjust more gently.

As parents, we all want the best education possible for our children. Now, it doesn’t cost a fortune to attain it. At Epic Classical Academy of Carrollwood, we embody a classical educational concept to provide your child with a well-rounded education for the 21st century. Speak with an Epic Classical Academy enrollment counselor today. Visit their website or call (813) 9616174.

marjorieludwig
Originally a Michigander, Marjorie believes she should have been born in the Sunshine State and loves everything Tampa Bay has to offer. She is still just as fascinated by the palm trees, beaches, and endless sunshine as the day she first called Florida home four years ago. Marjorie has a wonderful husband – a tall, redhead named Kyle (you can’t miss him!) – and a super sweet 18-month-old son named Connor. They live in Hillsborough County but enjoy exploring all parts of Tampa Bay. Marjorie has a passion for fitness and healthy living and incorporates physical activity into her daily life – whether she’s taking classes at the gym or going for jogs at the park with her son. She also enjoys testing out local restaurants with her family and is always up for a good cup of coffee! As for her career , Marjorie is a work-from-home career counselor and the Managing Editor for the Tampa Bay Moms Blog.