School Days

School days may have been a little weird over the last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some kids were in the classroom, some were remote with a computer screen, and some did a combination of both.

But as the 2021-22 school year approaches, many students will be back in the hallways and at their desks. What do you need to do to get ready?

Planning ahead

Even if your school doesn’t start for another few weeks, you can begin to prepare now. Doing these things will make it easier for you to adjust to a new schedule.

• Go to bed and get up on “school time.” Your body may have adjusted to later nights and sleeping in.

Start now to get to sleep a little earlier each night, and get up a little earlier each morning, so that your first week won’t be so difficult.

• Finish up summer reading projects. If you made a plan to read a certain number of books this summer, it’s time to check your progress. Make a list of the books you read and write a sentence for each about why you liked them.

School clothes

Your mom or dad may be getting your clothes ready for school. You can help.

• Try on last year’s tops and bottoms and make a pile of the ones that no longer fit.

• Organize your drawers or closet so that getting dressed in the morning will be quick.

• Make a list of the clothes you might need for school. These might include:

• shorts

• socks

• pants

• shoes

• tops

• jackets

• skirts

• masks

Backpack safety

To keep your back healthy, follow these tips:

• Always wear both straps. Using only one strap can cause back and shoulder pain or posture problems.

• Be sure the straps have good padding.

• Adjust the straps so they are the same length to spread the weight evenly.

• Make sure your backpack is not too heavy. Your backpack should weigh less than 20% of your body weight. (If you weigh 90 pounds, your backpack should be less than 18 pounds.)

• Be careful when getting on and off the bus. If your straps get caught, tell the driver immediately. Then free the strap.

Start with breakfast

Experts say that having a nutritious breakfast helps kids stay focused and able to concentrate. It also helps kids to have a better attitude about school.

What is a nutritious breakfast? It’s a meal that is balanced — it includes fruit, whole grains and protein. You might eat:

• fresh fruit

• muffins

• canned fruit

• waffles

• fruit juices

• eggs

• milk or yogurt

• meat

• hot or cold cereal

De-stress

Sometimes the start of school can be a stressful time for kids, especially if they’re at a new school. A new teacher, new classrooms and new friends can feel overwhelming.

Stress isn’t always a bad thing; sometimes it can make us work harder and do better.

If you feel stressed out, here are some steps you might take to feel better:

1. Ask yourself what is making you feel worried or nervous.

2. Make a list of the ways you could solve the problem.

3. Think about which solutions are best and why.

4. Choose the best solution and try it.

5. Ask your mom, dad, a teacher or another adult whom you trust to help you.

Photo by Rob Briscoe