Help your child start the school year off with confidence by teaching good organizational skills

Does your child struggle with &

• A messy backpack?
• Procrastination on projects?
• Test anxiety?
• Lack of internal structure?
• Difficulty focusing on the right details?

For many children, disorganization and poor work habits are not purposeful behaviors or a result of laziness. Approximately one in eight children ages three to seventeen struggle significantly with organizational skills as a result of inborn struggles[i]. A child s organizational problems are often directly related to difficulty understanding temporal concepts.

Organizational skills are a struggle for so many children and can influence a child s attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. Help your child establish an organizational system that works for him or her. An elaborate filing system may not work for every child. For some, out of sight may mean out of mind. What may look messy and disorganized may be the best system for your child. For others, a master notebook system can be the best way to stay organized, plan ahead, and turn in assignments on time[ii].

If you feel your child needs help developing an organizational system that works for him/her, we can help! The Child Success Center" now offers special workshops and one-to-one sessions designed to help your child develop an organization system that fits his/her needs.

For more information or to get your child the organizational help he/she needs to succeed call the Child Success Center" at (310)899-9597.

Overcoming Back-To-School Anxiety

While starting a new school year is exciting for some, many children experience anxiety when faced with a new school, classroom, teacher, or friends. Ted Feinberg, EdD, NCSP, and Katherine C. Cowan from the National Association of School Psychologists suggest the following methods for helping your child overcome back-to-school anxiety:

Let your children know you care by reinforcing the ability to cope. Send personal notes to school in the back pack or lunch box. Comfort your child by letting her know that it is perfectly normal to be nervous on the first day of school, but that the nervousness will subside as soon as she gets to know her teacher, the new school, classroom, and new friends.

Do not overreact if your child has a rough first few days. It is perfectly natural for younger children to experience some separation anxiety or shyness in the beginning. Entering unfamiliar territory can be daunting, but teachers are well equipped to help your child adjust. Instead of coddling, offer reassurance and positive reinforcement. And don t forget to tell them exactly when you ll be back to get them!

Reinforce your child s ability to cope. Give your child a few strategies to manage a difficult situation on his or her own. But encourage your child to tell you or the teacher if the problem persists. Maintain open lines of communication with the school.

Arrange play dates with some of your child s classmates during the first few weeks of school. This will help your child re-establish positive social relationships with peers.

Plan to volunteer in the classroom to help your child understand that school and family life are interconnected and that you are an active part of your child s learning experience. Being in the classroom is also a good way to develop a relationship with your child s teachers and classmates, and to get firsthand exposure to the classroom environment and routine.

Back to School Sleep Habits

Returning to school routines after a summer of altered sleep patterns can be stressful for both parents and children. Back to school means re-setting biological clocks and readjusting to a new sleep/wake pattern. School age children need much more sleep than adults; elementary school students need 10-11 hours, pre-teen students need 9-11 hours, and teens need 8.5-9.5 hours a night to ensure a healthy, productive school year.

Help your kids make a smooth transition from summer to back-to-school sleep patterns by getting your children back on the school sleep and wake schedule before school starts. Here are a few tips to ease the transition from summer to school year:

"Start getting your kids to bed a little earlier every night and up a little earlier every morning.

"Create a bedtime routine.

"Establish a bedtime and wake up schedule.