GET READY - GET SET- IT'S TIME FOR SCHOOL

Parental Tips for a Successful School Year

TEANECK, NJ (Thursday, August 19, 2004) - Back-to-school doesn't mean back to drudgery. New backpacks, sneakers, pencils, teachers and faces are all part of the eager anticipation children think about with the start of a new school year. As summer winds down and children begin trading in their beach towels and swimsuits for school buses and homework, there are several strategies parents can use to ease any stress that arises from back-to-school excitement.

A successful school year, according to Dr. Andrea Pastorok, an educational specialist with Kumon Math & Reading Centers, can depend on how smooth a child transitions from summer vacation. Dr. Pastorok suggests the following tips for a smooth route back-to-school:


1) Focus on the Positives. Speak to your children about their summer accomplishments and recognize the skills they practiced, such as perseverance, time-management, responsibility, and independence. These skills will help them succeed in school.

2) Ask your child to write a short story including exciting highlights from their summer experiences. This will give your child practice writing before the first day back in the classroom, and it is also a nice way to reminisce about quality time spent together.

3) Set up a study area for your child. It should be quiet (no TV or stereo), well ventilated, free of distractions (no phones, pets), well lit, and equipped with all necessary supplies for the child (pens, paper, markers, dictionary, thesaurus).

4) Establish a consistent homework routine at the very beginning. Help your child develop organization skills by writing down their appointments and activities, and by helping them break big assignments into small manageable parts. Being organized is a key to being a successful student. Schedule daily homework time in your house so it becomes a part of your family's routine. This also helps children to see that homework is a priority in your home.

5) Make time to get acquainted with your child's teachers and keep the communication open. Discuss goal setting with both your child and the teacher. This partnership of parent-teacher-child will be very effective in the development of healthy homework habits which will, in turn, help children have a successful school year.

6) Give your child genuine and frequent praise. Praise your child's progress, and don't focus on perfection. Let them know that you believe in them, you think they are special, you have confidence in them. Let your child know that you recognize and value their efforts not just their final accomplishments. Parents will get the best from their children by being positive and encouraging.

About Kumon Math and Reading Centers
Kumon [koo-mon] is an after-school math and reading program. Founded in Japan in 1958, the learning method uses a systematic approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration and develop better study skills. Worldwide, there are 3.5 million students studying at more than 22,000 Kumon Centers in 43 countries. For more information: 1-800-ABC-MATH or visit www.kumon.com. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey

View all Kumon Math & Reading Centers Press Releases

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