MESSENGER POST MEDIA
back to
school
DAZE
HOW TO EASE BACK INTO THE SCHOOL-YEAR ROUTINE
BY MELISSA ERICKSON | MORE CONTENT NOW
G
oing from summer break back to
the busy days of the school year
can be a difficult transition for
students and parents, but there
are ways to ease into it.
Change can be exciting, but new teachers
and pressures can be unsettling for kids.
It takes time and flexibility to transition
smoothly, especially for students who
experience anxiety.
Tantrums, sleeping problems or outright
refusal to participate are signs children may
need clinical attention, said psychologist
Courtney Keeton, who specializes in the
treatment of childhood anxiety and selective
mutism at Johns Hopkins Childrens Center.
If a childs anxiety is causing a great deal of
distress in her or his daily life, or if getting
along with family members or friends
becomes difficult, normal activities in and
outside of school are avoided, or there are
physical symptoms like stomachaches or
fatigue, these red flags indicate that the
childs anxiety should be evaluated by a child
psychologist or psychiatrist, Keeton said.
Its normal for nearly all children to
experience mild back-to-school jitters that
gradually diminish over a few weeks. The
key to success is for parents to help prepare
children for school-year routines, such as an
school!
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR the WEEK of AUGUST 20, 2017
earlier bedtime and selecting the next days
clothes ahead of time, Keeton said.
SLEEP ROUTINE
Sleep is incredibly important for students,
said Dr. Robert S. Rosenberg, board-certified
sleep medicine physician and author of The
Doctors Guide to Sleep Solutions for Stress
& Anxiety. Consequences from lack of good,
healthy sleep range from inattentiveness
to problems with impulse control, working
memory, planning and organizing, he said.
Insufficient sleep is a major cause of not
only poor academic performance but poses
an increased risk of obesity and cardio-
metabolic dysfunction as well as mood FREEPIK.COM
disturbances, suicidal ideation, increased
risk of athletic injury and motor vehicle to bed 15 minutes earlier every night or two, until their sleep/wake schedule
accidents, Rosenberg said. is appropriate for their age, Rosenberg said.
Two weeks before school starts, parents MORE TIPS TO EASE IN
should start putting children to bed earlier
and stick to it on weekends, Rosenberg said. Arrange play dates with one or more familiar peers before school starts,
Keeton said. Research shows that the presence of a familiar peer during school
Calculate, based on your childs age, how
many hours of sleep they should be getting: transitions can improve childrens academic and emotional adjustment.
Preschool: 10-13 hours Visit the school before classes begin, rehearse the drop-off, and spend time
on the playground or inside the classroom if the building is open. Have the
School age (6-13): 9-11 hours child practice walking into class while the parent waits outside or down the
Teens: 8-10 hours hall, Keeton said.
Then, based on what time they need to get Like anything new, starting the school year is challenging. Reassure your
up for school, work backward and put them child it may be hard but should soon become easy and fun.
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kindergarten is the new
first
grade IS YOUR PRESCHOOLER READY?
W
hen you think back to your own kindergarten experience,
it probably involved a half-day program and plenty of fun
activities - finger painting, sand play and nap time. Likely the
hardest parts were learning the alphabet and counting to
100.
Fast forward to today. While kindergarten still offers a fun learning
environment, its certainly more focused on academic achievement.
Kindergartners often know the alphabet and have solid counting skills prior
to the first day of school. If students arent reading at the beginning of the
school year, theyre certainly expected to be doing so by the end.
Kindergarten is the new first grade isnt just an anecdote, its a fact. New
research from the University of Virginia compares kindergarten and first-
grade classrooms between 1998 and 2010, finding that kindergarten
classes have become increasingly like first grade, with more time spent on
academic instruction and, ultimately, higher educational expectations.
Each year an estimated 4 million children enter kindergarten. To help pre-K
kids improve core learning skills and get them excited about school, its
important to find fun, age-appropriate ways to help them learn. Consider
these expert ideas for preparing kids ages 3-6 for kindergarten.
EDUCATIONAL APPS
Children today have a natural knack for technology. While its important to
monitor and balance screen time, the right technology can help educate
kids. Preschool Academy by IntellectoKids is an ideal example. With over
50 educational activities in one app, kids will learn the alphabet and
develop important skills like counting, sorting, logic and critical thinking
the foundations for math and reading. Best yet, the learning is rooted in
amusing animated puzzles about musical instruments, fun train adventures
or whimsical letter/number games.
This educational app allows parents to customize for multiple children and
select between three levels, increasing in difficulty as they play and learn.
Like Preschool Academy, the best learning games are constantly adding
fresh new learning activities and are always free of ads or hidden in-app
purchases.
FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Fine motor skills, also known as dexterity, involve the coordination and
control of muscles to create small movements. This usually requires hand-
eye coordination as well. Being prepared for kindergarten means having a
basic ability to complete fine motor actions like holding a pencil correctly,
tying shoes and sorting small objects.
FREEPIK.COM
One of the easiest ways to support your childs fine motor development is by providing lots
of opportunities to color and write. Make crayons and paper readily available and let kids
imaginations take off. As they try to draw a bird, write a story or create patterns, they are really
preparing themselves for the classroom.
READING AND CONVERSATION
Language is a heavy focus throughout the kindergarten curriculum. One way to prepare your
child is to make reading a daily activity, including classics like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,
Harold & the Purple Crayon or Dont Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Fostering a love of books can
set the stage for learning important reading skills. Visit your local library, stock your bookshelf
and download digital books.
Additionally, make time for genuine conversation with your child. Both reading and speaking
help children expand their knowledge of the English language. Theyll also learn important
social skills, and youll also find yourself developing a deeper bond with your little one.
PRESCHOOL
Want kids to be prepared for kindergarten? Enroll in preschool a few days a week. This experience
gives children the perfect foundation to prepare them for their educational journey. Preschools
provide introductory education in writing and math, but its a lot of fun, too. Students have
plenty of time to play and learn about the world around them.
Whats more, kids learn proper social etiquette and how to follow classroom rules. Being able
to sit still, listen to the teacher, raise a hand to ask a question and interact respectably among
peers are all important skills that kids will need in order to thrive in an academic environment.
If preschool isnt possible, consider joining a playgroup or visiting the library for story time, and
encourage social interaction with new kids at the playground.
Knowing that kindergarten is more challenging than ever, smart parents are taking charge by
introducing age-appropriate educational activities now. From smart apps like IntellectoKids
Preschool Academy to reading every day, youre helping build the brain power that leads to
success in kindergarten and beyond. [BPT]
 BACK TO SCHOOL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR the WEEK of AUGUST 20, 2017 PAGE 4

BACK to SCHOOL
blues THE WARNING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

BY MELISSA ERICKSON | MORE CONTENT NOW

T
ransitioning from the freedom-filled days of summer to attention-
sapping school days can make kids of all ages feel down. When a
child is dragging and dreading the school year, how can parents
know when its more than just the basic blues?
Youth suicide statistics are shocking. Suicide is the second-leading cause
of death for ages 10-24 and the third-leading cause of death for college-
age youth and ages 12-18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from
cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and
chronic lung disease, combined.
A childs mental health is especially important as she heads back to school
or off to college, said psychotherapist Amy Morin, author of 13 Things
Mentally Strong People Dont Do.
For kids with mental health issues, the start of the school year can be very
difficult. Fears about the new school year may lead to anxiety weeks, or even
months, before the first day of school, Morin said. If the start of the school
year doesnt go well, a sense of dread may set in, which can be extremely
harmful to a childs mental health.
WARNING SIGNS
Parents should be concerned when a childs feelings about school begin to
interfere with his daily life, she said.
If he cant enjoy the last few days of summer or if hes frequently
asking questions about what to expect from school this year, hes likely
experiencing more concern than most kids, Morin said.
To see how your child is coping, take a good look at her.
Depressed kids look a little different than depressed adults, Morin said. Missed homework assignments or declining grades may also signal depression.
Rather than sadness, depression tends to look more like irritability in If a child who usually performs well misses homework assignments or struggles to score well
kids. Unfortunately, many parents think their childs agitation stems from on tests, parents should keep an eye out for a mental health issue, Morin said.
adolescent mood swings, and a childs depression goes undiagnosed.
SEEKING HELP
Changes in behavior can be another indicator of depression. A child who
stops playing sports or one who starts staying home all the time may be How do you know when your child may need professional help dealing with their mental health?
experiencing a mental health issue, Morin said. Sleep difficulties are also Parents should take any threats of suicide very seriously. Most kids say something several times
common among kids with depression. Many of them stay up all hours of the before they make any actual attempts of suicide. Never assume your child is just trying to get
night, then have difficulty waking for school, she said. attention, Morin said. Self-harm should also be taken seriously. Children who cut themselves
Parents should look for behavioral changes, like increased defiance or or burn themselves should be evaluated by a mental health professional.
increased withdrawal. They should also listen to what a child says about If parents are questioning whether a child could be depressed, speak to your childs pediatrician
school. Parents shouldnt ignore statements like, No one likes me, or Im and ask if what youre seeing is normal and if your child needs further evaluation.
going to get picked on, Morin said. Like most mental health issues, depression is very treatable, Morin said. Parents often avoid
If youre concerned, ask questions, such as, What do you think the best treatment because theyre not sure if its necessary or they worry that their child will be labeled.
part of the school year will be? and if a child struggles to find anything Treatment with a mental health professional is confidential and its best to err on the side of
good, it could be a sign hes struggling with depression, Morin said. caution. Depression can be lethal.
 BACK TO SCHOOL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR the WEEK of AUGUST 20, 2017 PAGE 5
keep calm
STUDY ON!
B
enjamin Franklin said it best: By failing to
prepare, you are preparing to fail. Proper
preparation means everything. In order
to earn a target score, establishing a
game plan and sticking to it are critical
to achieve success, said Jonathan Chiu,
national ACT and SAT content director for
The Princeton Review.
Sound study habits like good organization, time
management and studying in the proper environment
will help a student learn material and succeed,
said study and life skills expert Rick Kamal,
president, EduNova.
HOW TO START
Get started by figuring out the test
format.
The only way that a student can expect
success is when she knows what to expect
on the test both in terms of layout and
content, Chiu said.
Make a study plan and mark down
specifically when youll be studying.
That helps you keep your eyes on the
prize, Kamal said.
Create a comfortable study workspace such
as a quiet room at the library or in your home
with music playing in the background, Kamal
said. It should be free from distractions and
interruptions. Dont forget to shut off your
phone.
Different study strategies work well
for different kinds of students, but for
standardized tests the key to success is being
able to identify and rectify errors in
thought processes or test-taking skills that are
applicable to any given test, Chiu said.
Whats better, to study alone or in a group setting?
Use whatever works best for you.
Some students may prefer group settings so that
TEST PREP TIPS FOR STUDENTS
BY MELISSA ERICKSON | MORE CONTENT NOW
others can help explain why an answer choice is correct; others
may prefer the solitude that working alone affords them to be
more focused in their preparation and practice, Chiu said.
Re-reading content doesnt necessarily translate into better
preparation if the student has difficulty understanding the content
or identifying what shes doing incorrectly.
For example, if I were to read a passage about how the
hydrophobicity and topography of a synthetic polymer substrate
affects cell affinity for attachment and proliferation, I could
repeatedly read the passage but still not pull any take-away
messages from it, Chiu said.
DO HOMEWORK BETTER
When faced with chapters to review, homework,
study guides, practice tests and more, some students
are unsure how to prioritize their time, but Chiu
recommends that practice tests and completed
homework should be reviewed before taking an
official test.
One thing many students overlook is how to go
about finishing homework. It doesnt simply
mean doing all the questions one sets out to
do or is assigned by an instructor, Chiu said.
Rather, finishing homework means doing
all the questions and checking the answer
key to see which questions are correct
and spending time trying to understand
how and why mistakes were made.
Only by diligent review and analysis of
completed work can appreciable score
improvements be made.
Lastly, dont forget to hit the pillow.
A good nights sleep can translate to
improved academic performance,
according to findings published in the
Journal of Sleep Research. Consistent
optimal sleep gives a student energy
and the abilities to focus, concentrate, retain
information and problem-solve.
FREEPIK.COM
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worth the
CHOOSE GOOD BACKPACKS
AND PACK THEM WISELY OR THEY
WEIGHT
COULD CAUSE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS
BY MELISSA ERICKSON | MORE CONTENT NOW

G
oing back to school puts a weight on a childs shoulders
literally. Backpacks today are made to carry heavy loads,
and children are stuffing them to the limit with textbooks,
laptops, filled water bottles, school supplies, sporting
goods and more. For good reason, many parents are
worried about the health of their childrens backs.
Even if it has all the features of a healthy backpack (see Whats a healthy
backpack?), it can still cause pain and strain strong, young backs. If its
packed in a way that makes it too heavy, it can cause a child to lean
forward and to develop back, neck and shoulder pain. Tight, narrow
straps can pinch nerves and interfere with circulation. A child or teen
can develop tingling and numbness in the arms and hands, said Dr. Kate
Cronan, medical editor for KidsHealth.org. Carrying a heavy backpack
also increases the childs risk of falling, especially down the steps.
In a study in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found children with
serious backpack-caused injuries, including sprains, strains and even
broken bones. Some students were injured by wearing heavy backpacks,
but more were hurt when they tripped over a backpack lying on the FREEPIK.COM
ground. Rolling backpacks seem like a good idea but pose their own problems.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that at least They may be helpful for occasional use for students who have to lug really heavy loads, but they
14,000 children are treated for backpack-related injuries every year. are very difficult to get upstairs. Check with the school before buying one because many schools
Carrying a 12-pound backpack to and from school and lifting it 10 times dont allow them since they can pose tripping hazards, Cronan said.
a day for the school year puts a cumulative load of 21,600 pounds on a Also, crossbody-type backpacks are not a good idea. The weight within the backpack is not
childs body. distributed evenly and may lead to muscle strain, Cronan said.
HOW TO PACK WHATS A HEALTHY BACKPACK?
To lighten the load, teach your child to pack the backpack correctly. Want to buy your child a healthy backpack? Cronan suggests the following:
Put heavy books and other items closest to the childs back. Try to pack A parent doesnt have to pay top dollar for good backpack. Look for sales before school starts or
it evenly whenever possible and avoid putting too much on one side buy offseason when they may be more reasonably priced.
of the backpack. Dont drop everything into the main compartment.
Spread the weight around by using the compartments, Cronan said. Parents should check to see how the backpack is constructed. Look for a lighter-weight backpack
that doesnt add a lot of weight to your childs load. For example: no leather.
And pack the backpack as lightly as possible.
Its best to have one that has a padded back for comfort and to prevent sharp things such as
Dont take unnecessary items to school. Drop books off at the locker pencils and rulers from poking your child in the back.
whenever possible in between classes, she said.
It should have two wide shoulder straps that are padded. Check for a waist belt and multiple
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR CHILDS BACKPACK IS TOO HEAVY? compartments, which both help to distribute the weight more evenly across the body. Backpacks
If it is difficult to get the backpack on or off, if the child develops back with one shoulder strap are not recommended because the child or teen may end up leaning to one
or neck pain or has to lean forward to carry it, then the backpack is too side to offset the extra weight. This can lead to shoulder, neck and lower back pain.
heavy and needs to be adjusted. If these things are noticed, its also a A childs backpack should fall above the buttocks and should rest evenly in the middle of the back.
time to recheck the straps and how the backpack is packed, Cronan
said. It should weigh no more than 10-15 percent of his/her body weight. So if a child weighs 60 pounds,
the backpack when filled should weigh 6 to 9 pounds.
If a backpack causes back or neck pain, it could be due to the weight of
whats in the backpack or the way its packed. If these things are fixed Some moderately priced backpacks have all of the helpful features mentioned above, so parents
and the child still has back or neck pain, call the doctor for a checkup, should be careful when choosing a backpack to avoid spending too much. The most popular
she said. colorful ones dont all have the best construction. Check carefully.
 BACK TO SCHOOL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR the WEEK of AUGUST 20, 2017 PAGE 7

partner for
SUCCESS HOW TO BE AN ADVOCATE
FOR YOUR CHILDS EDUCATION
BY MELISSA ERICKSON | MORE CONTENT NOW

E
ach day their child enters school, Do they have certain office hours when
every parent is entrusting the most parents might call or drop in?
precious beings in their lives to Use objective statements or open-ended
others. What happens if something questions whenever possible:
goes wrong, from a bad match with a Are you working on a particularly challenging
teacher to a bully on the playground? topic in math class?
How do you best advocate for your My child has been struggling with homework
child and talk to the teacher? lately. How do you suggest I help her?
School is not simply about developing cognitive Or, My child seems to have difficulty finding
skills. It is where we learn about ourselves and the homework assignments. Do you have any
develop skills to function in the wider world. suggestions on how to make sure he can
Parents need to be responsible and ensure that access them?
their kids are in an environment where they Try to steer clear of judgmental statements
can and do learn and grow academically and such as, You give way too much homework or
emotionally, said Joan Rooney, vice president, I cannot believe you said that to my son.
instructor management and support at The Be open to listening and hearing the
Princeton Review/Tutor.com, where she oversees teachers perspective.
staffing and instruction for the companys more
than 3,000 tutors and coaches. Be sure to share with the teacher any special
facts about your child that he or she should
At the same time, parents need to know when know. Even though all of the records may say
to take a step back and allow their children to that your child has difficulty getting and staying
develop their own life-coping skills. Be there for organized or does much better sitting at the
them. Be attentive, interested and supportive, front of the class, you should still bring this to
and let them surprise you with the creative and the teachers attention at the beginning of the
resourceful solutions they can come up with, said school year. They will appreciate the heads up.
Rooney, a former classroom teacher.
FOR MORE SERIOUS ISSUES
Good teachers want their students to succeed.
Over the course of your childs education, there
Creating a supportive working relationship will be times when a parent and teacher do not
with parents is a key component of that success, see eye to eye. When this happens, take time to
Rooney said. evaluate the situation. How serious is the issue? Is
TIPS your child detrimentally affected by this situation?
Communicating with your childs teacher is the Can you get advice or feedback from another
same as communicating with anyone else. Here teacher or the nurse or counselor at the school
are a few of Rooneys tips on how to advocate for and/or from other parents? Rooney said.
your child and best communicate with a teacher: A face-to-face meeting with the teacher should
Get to know the teacher as early in the be your first method of attempting to resolve the
school year as possible. Always be respectful. situation. You must then make a decision. Is this a
situation that you can all live with and just need
Be sensitive to the teachers time. Drop off or to get through as best you can, or do you need to
pick up times may work for you as an opportunity raise it to a higher level? she said.
to bring up a question or mention an issue, but
those tend to be demanding times for teachers If the situation must be addressed and you feel
who are responsible to get students safely you have exhausted other remedies, request a
situated in classes. meeting with the principal.
Find out from the teacher the best way to Sometimes bringing a third party into a discussion
communicate. Do they prefer email? can add new insights to help achieve resolution,
Rooney said.
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