Back To School

It's hard to believe, but the time for backpack shopping and catching the bus is upon us. That's right - schools all over the state of Georgia are about to start.

Many schools have their first day sometime during the first week in August, but some counties, including Cobb and Cherokee, start as early as August 1. Be prepared as school buses start hitting the road and be sure to watch out for students early in the morning in your neighborhood.

As many in the real estate industry know, the summer is the best time to move for families, and it has certainly been a busy season. If you have moved with your family, then it's likely your children may be starting a new school. While that can be an exciting transition, it can also be a challenge for some students to leave their old school behind and start with a blank slate at a new school.

If you are preparing your students for that transition, we have a few tips to make the first day of school go off with out a hitch and have your kids jumping off the bus with a big smile.

Open House/ Meet and Greet

One of the easiest and quickest ways to make your child feel at ease is to check out the open house or meet and greet that is held before school starts. Many counties will host such an event a day or two before school either in the morning or evening. This is a great opportunity for students and parents to meet their teacher for the year, learn where their classroom is, and get acquainted with their new school.
If you aren't able to attend the meet and greet, email your student's teacher and ask them questions about the year and their classroom, and also let them know that you are new to the area. Having a familiar face on the first day and letting them know the situation can really make a child feel more at ease in their new classroom.

Stock Supplies 

School supply shopping doesn't have to be a thing of dread. Let your child help and have fun with it! While you don't have to buy all new everything, maybe let them choose one accessory, like a book bag or pencil box, that they are excited about.
A few days before school, pack school supplies with your child. Show them everything that they have for the first day of school and let them know that they will be prepared!

Encourage Participation 

Another great way to quickly get accustomed with a new school is to participate in extra curricular activities. Many sports teams will probably begin practicing a few weeks before school, or will at least have meetings early on to get established. Encourage your child to try something new at their school and participate!
In high school this may be a bit easier with a variety of sports and activities to choose from, but elementary students can get involved too with neighborhood and community sports.

Get Some Sleep 

Summer is a time for hanging at the pool, playing outside, and sleeping! It's likely that kids aren't accustom to the early morning wake up call that is needed to get to school on time after two months away, but it is incredibly important to get enough sleep so they can be ready to learn.
A few weeks before school, start having them wake up earlier and earlier each day. It doesn't have to be a dramatic change, maybe just 15 minutes every other day. Those small increases can build up to the time they need to wake up for school, so that way on the first day, they will bounce out of bed ready to go!

Talk it Up 

While it's important to make sure your child is ready with supplies and sleep, it's also necessary to talk to them about their new school and ask them how they are feeling.
You don't have to have a formal sit-down with them, but start asking them what they are excited about, what they are nervous about, and any questions they may have about their new school. Understanding how your child is feeling about school will help you understand what they need and how you can help them be prepared.

Trial Run 

Taking a trial run of the first day goes hand-in-hand with attending open house, but there are other things to consider for the first day besides where your child's classroom is. If they will be riding the bus, walk with them to the bus stop and talk to them about how to be safe when waiting for and riding the bus.
If you will be driving them to school or picking them, make sure they know where to go and how to get to their classroom from the drop-off location. In addition, talk with your kids about what happens after they get home from school. Will a parent be home with them, or will they be with friends or siblings? Letting them know what to expect for all parts of the day can calm their nerves and help them get through the first day.

Merge the Old and New 

Starting at a new school can certainly be exciting, but it can also be a challenge to let go of an old school and friends. That's why it's important to merge the old with the new.
Encourage your child to make new friends, but also be sure to keep in touch with old friends from your last neighborhood or school. Whether that is a play date on the weekends or becoming pen pals, it will make your child feel that they haven't left everything behind and they will always have friends wherever they go.
If you had specific first-day traditions in your old home, keep them going at your new one, and if you want, make a new tradition. It can be as simple as eating pancakes or taking a picture, but having keeping old traditions will allow your child to have something familiar on their first day.

Get involved 

Your child is the star of the show when it comes to starting at a new school, but you can definitely be a great supporting actor!
Talk with your child's teacher and the school's PTA to see how you can get involved with the school. Attend a PTA meeting to learn about what's happening at the school, or, if you're teacher needs volunteers, go and help out by reading to your child's class or chaperoning a field trip. When your child sees that you are participating in their new environment as well, they will be encouraged to participate themselves, and will also feel more at ease knowing you are there.

Stay Positive 

Throughout the transition of attending a new school, it is most important to stay positive. Drop them off for their first day with a smile, a warm hug, and encouragement, and follow up with interest when they get home. If you approach the new community with a positive attitude, your kids will follow suit!