by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book: Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.patlambchristianauthor.com.
Train up a child…
Start Children Back to School “on the Right Foot”
Getting off to a bad start in anything is not a good thing, but it is especially important that children get a good start at the beginning of each school year. The start of the year sets the pattern of behavior for the remainder of the school year and possibility for years to come. Having a set pattern removes uncertainty and much confusion as children practice firm rules in the home. As those rules become habits, parents are more at ease and there is less worry on the part of both the parents and the children.
Before school starts in the fall, parents need to sit down with children and pray with them that they will do their best. Undue pressure should not be put on any child to make straight “A’s”. Rather, children should be encouraged to do the best they can do with the abilities God has given them. II Timothy 2:15 is a good verse to use to impress children to do their best in school. If a child can understand that it is God who is to be pleased more than self, teachers, or parents, studying becomes more important. This gives purpose and the proper attitude toward learning. The prayer instills a sense of seriousness about the importance of behavior and effort.
Children need routine. They need the understanding that their behavior is acceptable, and they need to know that their parents are concerned with their well-being.
A good routine for children each school night might include the following:
- Homework is done at a certain time and place; then, it is laid out in a special spot so the child will not have to hunt for it the next morning.
- Anything that is to be taken to school with the homework is placed along with the homework in a designated spot to prevent the scurrying around that often occurs in many homes as children frantically try to get ready to go to school.
- Clothes to be worn the next day are laid out and ready to be put on.
- Any chores in the home that the child is to do the next day are
explained so that the child is not surprised with added activities that may interrupt his/her plans.
- The alarm clock is set.
When these things are taken care of, one of the parent’s checks in on the child at bedtime to be available to hear questions or comments from the child before hearing the prayers of the younger children. Older children may want to say prayers in private.
When the listed items are done, the child can go to bed at ease knowing all is ready for the next day. That child knows that the right thing has been done and will have a sense of accomplishment. Both the children and the parents will rest better knowing that all is organized.
When children wake up in the morning and their clothes are ready for them, they don’t have the turmoil in their minds to start the day wondering what to wear. They don’t have to worry about their homework because they know where it is. After a good breakfast, one or both parents can give each child a big hug and kiss before he/she walks out the door along with a word of advice such as, “Learn all you can learn!” or “No matter what happens today, I will still love you tonight!” With a final, “I love you!” the child is on the way to a good day at school.