We are hearing the great news from families about their kids’ amazing summer experiences! We are thrilled to know that so many of our recommendations led to a summer of friendship, explorations and new found independence. With summer coming to a close, let the transition to school begin. Here are some “TIPS” that are collected from teachers and educational experts that your family might find helpful.
8 Back to School “TIPS”
1. Summer programs are teaching kids that taking care of themselves leads to success. Keep that going! Ensure your child is getting enough sleep, eating regular meals and healthy snacks and has daily exercise. When your children’s minds and bodies are nourished, they are at their best.
2. Designate a distraction-free study zone! Research shows after being distracted it takes 25 minutes for your child’s brain to refocus. Turn off those cell phones. Be sure to block all notifications and SOCIAL MEDIA app’s on the computer.
3. Be organized. Organization is a family affair. Encourage your students to keep a homework planner/calendar for work, play and all extracurriculars. Tests, band practices, away games, half-days and holidays are just a few examples of reminders for your planner.
4. Start the year with good study habits. Suggest to your students to look over their notes each night to make sure they’ve got it. Fill in details, edit the parts that don’t make sense, and star or highlight information that is most important. Encourage them to study a little every day. The more familiar the material, the easier it is to remember it when it counts!
5. Encourage your student to make a friend in every class. Those will be the buddies to call to ask about the homework assignment and will be a ready made study group to review materials for tests and projects.
6. Help is available if you see your child is struggling. Teachers, tutors and mentors can be a source of support for kids of all ages.
7. Charge Away! Insist on a designated charging space outside of your child’s bedroom. All electronic devices such as, TV’s, gaming devices, phones, laptops etc., should be as far away from your child’s sleeping head as possible.
8. The school year is full of challenges. Remember to be a supportive parent. Open your eyes and ears. Provide support and guidance while teaching your students independence and the ability to problem solve on their own.
Camp is over and I am choking back the tears. Why am I crying, you may ask or some of you may think, what type of parent am I? Aren’t I excited to see my camper? Of course, I am excited and of course, I missed him all summer. But each summer when camp ends, is one summer less for my children to be just that – children. Each summer that passes, means one less summer for them to smile, laugh, grow and learn in an unplugged world. I know this – how? I have seen children start camp at the young age of 7 or 8. I have seen children grow into preteens and not have to deal with the awkward middle school moments during the summer. I have seen teens be able to feel safe and happy with their camp family and temporarily escape the overwhelming stress and pressure they feel all year. I have also seen my own children mold and shape new campers as their counselors. Don’t think that being a counselor for the summer is the easy way out. Far from it, it’s hard work, but the rewards include maturity, personal relationships, time management, conflict resolution and so much more. If you think there is joy in seeing your happy camper, there is another sense of joy and pride when you see happy campers looking up to your happy counselor. But like everything else in life, all good things come to an end. So why am I crying? Because I don’t want any of this to end and the end of each summer means we are all getting closer to the end of this stage. 
For some campers, walking off the plane and into their home is a seamless transition. For most, the transition from camp to home has its up’s and down’s. Don’t take it personally. It is totally normal for parents to be exploding with joy while their campers may be somewhat sad upon summer’s end. After all, summer camp is your child’s home away from home!
