Back to School: How to Prepare Your Kids

In just one week, Dearborn students will be crowding crosswalks, playgrounds and classrooms to get back to school.

And although some districts may advise parents to purchase pricey supplies, backpacks and gizmos, Dearborn Public Schools have no such list–maintaining that public education should be free.

But that doesn't mean there aren't other ways to prepare for Sept. 7.

“Parents can get suggestions (for school supplies) from teachers, but generally, we do not provide a supplies list because our mandate is to provide a free education,” said Dearborn Schools spokesman David Mustonen. “We’re telling parents to prepare their students in other ways, so they can have a successful year.”

The good news is that helping young people get into the proper frame of mind for school will mean more over the long haul than a new backpack or flash drive. Here’s a list of what you can do–for free or at a very nominal cost–to prepare your kids for school.

1. Encourage a school-based sleep schedule. Stacy Rumler, a social worker at , said this one easier said than done, but is a must. This year, that's especially true for Muslim students, many of whom have been staying up late and sleeping in all August for Ramadan. “I always tell parents, ‘To bed by 10 p.m., and up by 6 a.m.,’” she said. “That can be hard because teenagers are wired to stay up later, but it helps to have them on schedule sooner so they are not tired in the classroom.”

2. Visit the school. If the students are young, and there is a new school involved, drop by and show a child where they will be attending class and what to expect, said Melissa Lambrecht, the principal of Sacred Heart School. “Students can feel some anxiety about the start of school if the surrounding is new,” she said. “Explaining to them what will occur in the classroom and that their teacher is there to help them can help a great deal.”

3. Talk about goals. Gail Shenkman, the assistant superintendent of secondary education at Dearborn Schools, said talking about goals is a good primer to get kids focused on school. “Have a talk with them about the things they might be having trouble with and let them know that there’s help available at school,” she said. “Students need to know that they have (their parent’s) support.

4. Display important reminders. Rumler said a good low-cost way keep students on the ball is displaying symbols to get them in the mood for learning. “Little reminders about things they want to do are a good way to keep students focused,” she said. “If they want to go to Europe, hang a picture. If they want to go to the University of Michigan, hang a pennant.”

5. Practice back-to-school eating. Summer provides a lot of opportunities for young people to eat junk food and drink carbonated sodas, which aren’t conducive to good health. “Eating healthy will give students the energy they need to get through the school day,” Rumler said.

6. Turn off the electronic devices an hour before bed. Rumler said the light from electronic devices like laptops, computer monitors and televisions can interfere with the best kind of restful sleep students need to begin the school year, and advises parents to ask students to turn them off.

7. Read to young children. Reading to children always encourages important connections within the brain, assists in vocabulary development, and encourages parent/child bonding, but can be a fun way to keep children learning before school is in session, Mustonen said. Older kids? Encourage them to take time to read on their own.

8. Let children know you believe in them. Lambrecht said most students crave support as they take on new tasks in school. “Never let them forget that you believe in their talents,” she said. “That will inspire them to do well.”