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it clothing, shoes, or school supplies, allow the child to touch and handle the new purchases and place the items in the shopping cart. This simple act boosts the child's ego and reduces the urge in the child to open and examine everything once you have reached home with the newly acquired purchases.

Allow the child once you do return home with the school supplies to have an active role with you in organizing their backpack and school supplies to begin the first day of school. Once that is accomplished, put the supplies away for safe keeping until the first day of school.

Be sure to try on all new clothing items you purchased for your child to assure they fit and give you time to return them if they do not. Once you are sure of the fit, take the time to wash the new clothing prior to the beginning of school to assure your child of a more comfortable school day. No child can keep their attention on what a teacher puts before them when they are uncomfortable and squirming around in the seat in stiff, sometimes scratchy new clothing.

Some parents use a reward system for grades during the school term and others do not. If you choose to use a reward system, outline exactly what the reward will be and how your system will work during the two to three weeks prior to the beginning of the new school term. Once in place, remind the child of the reward system once a week until school starts and do so in a happy, positive manner. This would give the child yet another reason to look forward to school beginning, particularly if it is a monetary reward at grading period which they will be allowed to spend on a new toy of their choice. Parents who do not wish to use monetary rewards for grades might alter the reward system to something as simple as telling the child that each week the parent receives a good report from the teacher on how well the child is doing what the teacher expects of them the child will be allowed to choose the dinner menu one night during the week. If you do offer any type of a reward system, though, be sure you follow through on it, even it that meant eating fish sticks, gummy bears, and ice cream for dinner one night.

There will usually be a parent and child conference with the new teaher prior to the beginning of the school year. Be sure you attend this meeting with your child and that you do so with a happy, positive outlook with both the child and teacher. If you are a working parent, schedule some time off to attend this meeting, if necessary, and make plans ahead of time regarding your working hours to take your child to school the first day of first grade. In some cases the list of school supplies is more than the child will be able to carry and most children are a bit scared even if they are excited about going back to school. Having you walk with them to the classroom helps ease that fear. Most teachers do not want you to prolong your stay that morning, though, and most often your child will do far better if you stay no longer than it takes to greet the teacher and see that he or she receives the list of school supplies they requested. Some schools only have children attend a half day the first day of school. You wil have the opportunity to learn if this is the case during your conference with the teacher and plan your day accordingly.

If your child begins school with the necessary school supply items requested by the teacher and with a happy, positive attitude you have helped to build, your new first grader should do very well in school.

Learn more about this author, Ty Fillers.
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