Tips to Prepare for a Successful School Year 

• What to wear: Wear what makes you feel great. It does not matter if it is new or old, it only matters that you feel good in whatever it is that you wear. Feeling great is such an important part of establishing confidence and positive energy. Help promote independence by wearing easy pull up or down clothing without buttons or snaps.  
• What to expect: Expect some nerves. It is normal to feel nervous transitioning back to school. Your teachers are nervous as well, but there is also a ton of excitement. You may see old friends or meet some new ones. Most likely, your teacher and the staff at school have fun activities planned for the day for everyone to get to know one another. This will help ease those nerves too.  
• How to win the day: Go into the new school year with an open mind, positive attitude, and excitement for new opportunities! There may be parts about the day that catch you off guard or intimidate you, but your peers are feeling the same way and your teachers and staff are there to help you have your best day! Lastly, always remember to put on a smile and be a good friend. 

Annalise Duffy, Educator and GiGi’s Board Member

Kristin Nelsen, GiGi’s Fargo Board Member, National Education Committee and Education Coordinator  

• Start the school year off by having a homework routine established. What time works best for your family – before dinner or after dinner? Set the time and stick to it. Make sure your family has a designated homework spot. This routine will set the expectation from the beginning of the year. 
• Prepare for success by making use of the small snippets of time. While cooking dinner or driving in the car, go over spelling words, sight words or math facts. 
• Read out loud to your child! It is so important for their academic success. Find 10-15 minutes a day where you can enjoy a good book together. 

• Make time for breakfast every day. Focus on protein and healthy fats for satiety and brain-boosting benefits!  
• Remind your child to hydrate! Find a reusable water bottle they love to bring with them wherever they go to make it more fun.  
• Pack lunches and snacks with protein, high quality fats, and fiber to keep blood sugar levels stable and your child feeling fueled and at their best throughout the day.  Examples: Greek yogurt with berries and granola, apple slices with sun butter, or carrot/cucumber sticks with hummus and crackers. 

Morgan Aubol, Joyfully Fed Owner, and GiGi’s Playhouse Program Coordinator  

Stefanie Gefroh Ellison, OBGYN- Essentia and GiGi’s Fargo Board Member

• Remember to take a deep breath when feeling stressed. We are our own harshest critic so practice self-recognition by keeping self-talk positive.  
• With the kids back in school it may be time to take care of yourself by scheduling your own annual exam. 
• Ask for help if you need it. Be it from your spouse, a neighbor, a friend – chances are they will gladly pitch in. 

• Practice your teacher’s name out loud and practice friends’ name that are in the class. 
• Start their morning routines a couple of weeks prior to school starting. What goes in our backpacks, checking the weather (what do we wear when it’s 90 degrees verses 50 degrees, where do we put our shoes). 
• Practice the ‘wh’ questions (what, who, when, why) that all children get asked by so many adults. Have a visual schedule to support the child’s answers if the child has limited verbal speech. Examples of these questions: “What grade are you in?” “Who is your teacher?” “When do you start school?” etc.  
• Make a visual schedule to prepare children for their morning routine. Make a visual schedule to prepare them for the structure of their class (teachers should send out an itinerary of their child’s day). 

Laura Hofer, SLP- Pediatric Partners and GiGi’s Fargo Board Member 

Shelby Schweigert, GiGi’s Playhouse Operations Manager 

• Use visual timers paired with what is coming next to prepare your child for a transition- “in two minutes we are going to brush our teeth”. 
• If the task/activity that is next is aversive, use “first” “then” language. The “then” should be a motivator- “First brush your teeth, then we can pick a toy to play with while we wait for the bus”.
• Avoid power struggles and use positive praise to encourage behaviors you want to continue to see “I love that you put your shoes on all by yourself, way to go” “Great job getting dressed the first time I asked, thank you” Make sure the positive praise is specific and genuine- more than “good job”  after each direction.