2018-2019 El Segundo Back to School Guide

• Thank a Teacher – Who doesn’t like words of affirmation? Teachers & Admins at our schools care – they are invested in our kids and deserve a pat on the back (frequently). Next time you see a teacher thank them for what they do!
• Don’t Break the Rules @ Drop-off – Each school has their own drop off rules – get familiar with them. ESPD was present today at each school providing warnings to parents.
• Nurture Individuality – According to El Segundo MFT Rebecca Kahane, “Children have a need to belong. As a parent, you want to nurture your child’s individuality and uniqueness while helping them find ways to belong without compromising who they are.”
• Create an Incentives System – Kids are kids – they want to play! Very few get excited about doing homework but it’s imperative that your child learns and practices good habits early on. Establish an incentives system to keep them motivated – do “x” by “this” time and get “x” minutes on your iPhone or computer.
• Eat healthily – They are many studies that correlate poor diet to poor performance in school, even depression.
• Make new friends – Inspire your child to meet new people – if they see someone alone go talk to them.
• Empower them – when they come home with their school supplies list take them to the store – let them pick their items.
• Create goals – Goal-setting is a crucial life skill to learn early on. Sit down with your child and set goals for the school year. Don’t write all of them for them – start with them writing down goals they want to achieve. Once goals are set, have them sign on the dotted line! Throughout the school year check-in with your child and help them stay true to the goals they set. You might even consider creating a contract that both you and your child signs as part of the 2018-2018 school year. Be clear on your expectations of them and inspire them to create their own goals for the year.
• Read – Encourage your child to read often. Set a goal to read “x” books by the end of the school year (or break it down by week).
• Embrace Tech – Apps like iHomework or MyHomeWork can help your child manage their homework duties.
• Restrict Tech – iPhones, iPads, computers, etc – your child is going to want to play Fortnite ALL THE TIME! Set rules around when and how often your child can invest time playing on screens.
• Meet Often – Setup weekly meetings to check in with your child and to review schedules for the week(s) ahead.
• Create a Family Calendar – A family calendar that helps tracks everyone’s activities and commitments will bring more structure to your child’s life (and yours too!). Buy a whiteboard or chalkboard at a local supply store and put your calendar out for all to see.
• Set Routines/Schedules – Routines help children feel comfortable and you won’t survive this school year without routines. Routines are good for parents, too! By now, you’ve spent a few days acclimating your child to a school schedule. Even the most confident children are nervous at the start of the school year and schedules & routines will help calm their nerves.
• Respect Authority – Remind your kids to treat teachers with respect – Teachers & Administrative staff voluntarily chose a vocation that pays low (relatively speaking) but provides value to our kids lives that is immeasurable. They are our partners in parenting and if we treat them with respect our kids will treat them with respect.
• Engage Directly With the Schools – in today’s day and age it’s natural for some to take to social media when problems/issues arise – consider reaching out to the school’s principal and teacher directly. Start the conversation with the source and ask, don’t assume. We live in a free world where you can do what you want but we owe it to our schools to give them the benefit of the doubt when problems/issues arise.

Next – Tips for Elementary School Parents
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