Kindergarten through eighth-grade students in the Vail School District are heading back to school today - and summer is winding down for other kids all around Tucson. The transition back to school can be challenging for some families, said Pearl Chang Esau, who heads the advocacy group Expect More Arizona, but it doesn't have to be.
She has three recommendations to help children and families.
First: Get back into a regular routine.
"You’ve got to transition from those summer lazy days on a different schedule back into the getup and go routine of going to school," she said.
She recommended parents start adjusting meal and bed times soon to make sure kids are on the new schedule before school starts.
Second: Sit down and set some goals.
"Maybe this year they want to get an A in math, or they want to turn in all of their homework on time."
Chang Esau said goals are a really easy way to get kids psyched for the year.
Her third tip is for parents to encourage learning away from class.
"Really anything that you do can be turned into a learning activity," she said.
"Take for example your next family outing, you can have your child calculate how many miles you’ll have to travel, and how much gas will cost."
Expect More Arizona has more tips on their website, at todayinaz.org.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.