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There are a lot of things you can and should do as the school year draws to a close.

The end of one school year is actually a really good time to begin planning ahead for the following year. Usually, the end of the school year is a little chaotic and by following some simple suggestions, it might just make the end of the school year run a bit smoother for the whole family.

For students, there is a sense of loss when they see the end of the school year coming. A loss of time spent with friends in school, a loss of sense of direction that school gave them, and a loss of goals to strive for. At least in their minds.

There are several things you can do...

First of all, talk to the school or/and your child and find out what classes will be taken the following year. It's also a good time to find out what to expect in the next year as far as the school is concerned and then you can give your child some guidance in adjusting to the changes. By talking about the next year, you are reinforcing in your child's mind that education has a continuous flow and one year blends into the next.

You should also get some advice on how to handle your child's final report card. The school counselor could help you with this. It's important that your child not go into the Summer feeling like they have somehow been a failure. If that happens, they might dread going back to school. Often kids have school years that are not so great and then follow it with an amazing year. There might have been just one small factor that was holding them back.

Spring can be a time when students lose focus and if the focus on school work is not maintained in those last weeks of school, their schoolwork can suffer. It would be wise to look for solutions before hand in case you see this happening.

When your child receives their standardized test scores, they might be a bit difficult to fully understand. There is no shame in looking to the school for help in understanding what they indicate.

It's important to find a way to help your child say goodbye to all the friend's they made over the school year land to all the teacher's they have become fond of and will most likely feel sad about not seeing for a long time.

If your child is small and in the few years of school, make sure you plan for Summer child care well in advance as there will be many working parents dealing with the same issue and it may be difficult to find someone reliable if you leave it too long.

If you have a teen, they might be anxious to find one of their first Summer jobs. Early in the Spring you can help them to start planning what type if work they might like to do and how to go about applying.

And don't forget about Summer camp if it's in the plans. Book far ahead to make sure there is a camp for your child.

If you have an organized plan and involve your child, you will most drift seamlessly into Summer and the following school year without any major problems.

Learn more about this author, Ray Fauteux.
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