5 Tips to Start the School Year Right

Last updated: August 15, 2022, at 8:40 a.m. PT

Originally published: August 31, 2018, at 9:49 a.m. PT

Young girl sitting at school desk in a classroom with other kids, smiling at the camera leaning her head on her hand.
  1. Attitude is everything. It’s the start of a new school year, a new beginning, a fresh start. It’s a time to set new goals and expectations and embrace a positive attitude while leaving past troubles, struggles, and grudges behind. Talk with your child about what a good day looks and feels like. Set some goals together on how to make each day a great one!
     
  2. Get organized. Kids thrive on schedules. Set a time each day for decompressing from school and activities, completing homework, preparing for the next day, and a regular bed time. When everyone understands what’s expected and when, daily life will settle into a happy rhythm. 
     
  3. Eat a good breakfast! Summer can be a time of laid-back meals and not-so-healthy snacks, but teachers know that a hungry stomach can lead to unhappy kids. A healthy breakfast provides a solid foundation for the day. Try protein-rich foods like eggs, yogurt, whole-wheat bagels with cream cheese, and peanut butter bananas!  
     
  4. Make new friends. The start of a new school year is a great time to encourage your student to make new friends.  Suggest that they get involved in an after-school club or activity, join a sports team, or reach out to the student in class that they don’t recognize from last year. Let them know that everyone is probably just as nervous as they are, and also hoping to make new friends, too! A simple smile and a hello go a long way.
     
  5. Talk. Set aside time every day to ask your child about their day. Use open ended questions to get more than a simple yes or no answer.
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