Checklist of things to prepare before the new semester starts

In the United States, September is when the new school year begins.

Winter vacation is a time when children who have had their schedules changed in many ways must prepare for a new grade, a new class, or a new school. If they are going to a new school, I think you may be especially worried.

Today, I'm going to talk briefly about what you can prepare for your children at home before they go to school or at the beginning of the semester. Please check if there is anything that applies to your child, and prepare in advance for the parts that you can prepare together so that your child can adapt well to school!

• Give your child a chance to prepare for school by having him pack his own bag during the week before school starts. Talk about what he needs to pack, what books he needs, and talk about the teachers and friends he will meet at school.
• For older children (middle school & high school), label their notes and items to help them identify them.
• Help your child pack items that he or she will feel attached to and enjoy, such as school supplies, clothes, dolls to attach to bags, shoes, etc. that the child likes to touch.
• If this is your first classroom or school, prepare a one-page summary of information about your child to give to the teacher. It would be good to write about your child's characteristics, likes, dislikes, ways to help in certain situations, what he or she is good at, and what he or she has particular difficulty with.

• It is a good idea to practice going to bed and waking up according to the school schedule before school starts. The less changes a child experiences, the better he or she will adapt to the changes.
• It is a good idea to practice getting your child ready for school on his or her own repeatedly until he or she can do it well. Make a checklist to help your child do his or her morning routine independently, such as getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, and packing his or her bag.
• Clothes that are easy to put on and take off, a thick pencil that is easy for your child to hold, shoes that are easy to put on and take off (practice beforehand if they don't know left and right!), and a bag that is easy to open and close are a must!

• Has your child never been to school before? I usually recommend that you take a school tour with your child before the semester starts. Take pictures of every nook and cranny of the school, including classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, and playground. When you get home, draw a map of the school and talk about the space to help prepare your child.
• Talk to your child about what happens at school. It will be helpful to see what each space in the school (the teacher's office, classrooms, health room, cafeteria, gym, etc.) does, see pictures of it, read books, etc.
• For children who have trouble keeping their textbooks, it would be a good idea to prepare an extra set of the same textbooks at home. This will help them study at home, and it will also help if they forget their textbooks and don't bring them home.

• It would be a good idea to practice your child’s answers in advance when you ask them “What did you do today?” after they get home from school ( see more blog posts ). Once you know what your child has done, you can figure out where you can help them more.
• If your child is able to express his or her feelings well, I recommend talking to him or her about those feelings. It is natural for him or her to feel stressed and worried. Focus more on how to relieve those negative feelings.

Even if your child doesn't have a concept of time yet, I recommend checking the calendar together with them until the school day.

As you look at the calendar, remind your child repeatedly that there is a set schedule and help him focus on the day by giving him a visual representation of what will happen.

Children are constantly discovering, learning, and growing new things. The new school year is always exciting, but I hope you will join me in preparing for school today as I look forward to seeing what new things my child will learn and grow :)

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