5 Steps to an A+ Start to the School Year

HarperKids
Aug 31, 2018 · 4 min read

By Rob Elliott, author of Laugh-Out-Loud A+ Jokes for Kids

As we wind down our summer, it’s time to trade in beach towels for backpacks and get back to class. The switch to a new routine can clobber our kids with stress. Here’s five ways your family can keep it positive and celebrate the transition to a new school year.

Put some “party” into planning.

Set aside some fun one-on-one time to prep for the start of school. Head out to shop, searching for the coolest outfit ever for the first day. Pick out a notebook with a favorite animal or character on the cover. Let your son or daughter choose three snacks to add some ‘yum’ to their lunchbox. Sit down over frozen yogurt to talk through questions or stress your child is feeling. Invite them to share any goals and after-school activities sparking new interest. Brainstorm strategies for homework success. Put your imaginations to work, exploring ideas for upcoming days off and holiday breaks. A little undivided attention, a special treat, and a few new items for school can boost the excitement for what’s to come.

Get in a groove. It’s hard for a kid to celebrate school feeling tired, cranky or stressed out. A solid routine builds security and cuts the tension for everybody. Commit to an early bedtime to bank plenty of hours for sleep. Create a consistent after-school rhythm of healthy snacks, homework, and talking through their day. Since it’s been proven that screens ramp up anxiety, set limits on screen time on school nights. Share as many meals around the dinner table as possible. Allow plenty of time for stories, laughs, and snuggles before tucking into bed. A predictable schedule with lots of moments to connect keeps our kids happy and healthy.

Be ready for a reset. Kids are going to have bad days. They’ll fail a test, fight with a friend, or run out of steam before the week is over. Be prepared to refresh their moods and yours. A little laughter is a big interruption to stress, attitudes, and negative behavior. I’ve had many parents tell me they keep joke books in the car and around the house for this very reason. A tricky tongue twister, a silly song, or a few nutty knock-knock jokes can be just the thing to turn your kid’s day around.

It’s in the little things. It doesn’t take much to encourage our kids throughout their day. Pop a greeting card or smiley sticker in your child’s lunch box. Tuck a sticky note in their planner to say “good job.” Take a surprise detour to the donut shop on your way home from school. Be ready with a small gift card for a surprise reward after a tough test. Show up with a pizza on your kid’s lunch break to share a few minutes in the cafeteria. Create your own secret handshake or code for “I love you” to share at morning drop off. (All I have to say is “Guess what?” for my son to blurt out, “I love you, you’re awesome!” before I beat him to it. It’s our thing.) Put a coupon under your child’s pillow for one hour at the park or playing their favorite board game. Simple rewards and words of affirmation go a long way to build confidence in our kids.

Keep summer going a little longer. Despite a new, busier schedule and a little change of weather, it helps to keep a taste of summer in the mix. Get back to the pool or the beach while it’s still warm. Keep backyard hot dogs and s’mores on the menu. Meet up with friends at the playground. Eat popsicles on the porch. Use up your last crumbles of sidewalk chalk and every drop of bubble mix you’ve got. Chase fireflies while they last. Savor a slower pace on weekends. Whatever you do, let the spirit of summer hang on so you remember to unwind as a family.

Summer was awesome, wasn’t it? Let’s pack this new school year with as much laughter, optimism, and family togetherness as it can hold.


About the Author:

Rob Elliott is the bestselling author of “Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids,” “Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids,” “Laugh-Out-Loud Animal Jokes for Kids,” “More Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids,” “Laugh-Out-Loud Doodles for Kids,” “Laugh-Out-Loud Spooky Jokes for Kids,” “Laugh-Out-Loud Christmas Jokes for Kids,” “Laugh-Out-Loud Awesome Jokes for Kids,” and “Laugh-Out-Loud Road Trip Jokes for Kids.” His popular joke books have sold more than 2.5 million copies. Rob has been a publishing professional for more than twenty years. He lives in West Michigan, where in his spare time he enjoys laughing out loud with his wife and five children.

About the Book: Laugh-Out-Loud A+ Jokes for Kids

The #1 bestselling Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids series heads back to school with a collection of brand-new jokes that will have the whole class in stitches! With riotous jokes for every occasion — from chortling in the hallways to cackling on the bus — these instant classics full of fresh, clean humor will keep the whole school quaking with laughter!

How do bees get to class?
They take the school buzz!

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