Days lounging in front of the television, playing computer games and lounging around the pool are giving way to ringing school bells, eating lunch in a cafeteria and piles of homework.
The first day of public school is Thursday, August 10. Parents and caregivers can take steps now to help smooth the sometimes difficult transition back to campus.
Purchase Back-to-School Supplies
Get your child ready for school by buying school supplies in advance when possible. Supply lists can be found on your school’s website or will be provided by their teachers during open house. This year, Florida’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday runs from Monday, July 24 to Sunday, August 6, when qualifying back-to-school items are exempt from sales tax. Items exempt from sales tax include certain clothing, footwear and accessories with a sales price $100 or less per item, certain school supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item, learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less per item and personal computers and related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use with a sales price of $1,500 or less. For a more complete list of tax-exempt items visit floridarevenue.com.
Get Required Physicals and Vaccinations
Students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade who are coming into a Florida school for the first time must present a current Florida School Entry Physical Examination form. If your child plans to participate in a sport or marching band they may need a sport physical form to be completed by their doctor. Appointments fill up quickly so secure your child’s spot today.
Proof of vaccination is required for students entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and seventh grade. Your child’s physicians should be able to tell you if they are up-to-date on vaccinations. Immunizations not required but recommended include a flu shot and pneumococcal and Hepatitis A vaccines.
Parents with private health insurance or Medicaid can contact their health care provider. Parents without private health insurance or Medicaid can contact the Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough County Immunization Clinic for further information.
Address Sleep Schedules
Staying up late and sleeping in just doesn’t cut it when students need to be alert and attentive in early morning classes. Start now by making subtle changes to their bedtime over the next couple weeks.
Screen Time
Too much of anything can be harmful and screen time is no exception. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), today’s children are spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that began in 2018 indicates that children who spent more than two hours a day on screen-time activities scored lower on language and thinking tests, and some children with more than seven hours a day of screen time experienced thinning of the brain’s cortex, the area of the brain related to critical thinking and reasoning.
The AAP recommends placing limits on the time spent using media and making sure it doesn’t take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity and other behaviors essential to health. Parents can also designate “media-free” times together, such as dinner or driving, as well as “media-free”locations at home, such as bedrooms.
Calm Their Fears/Anxiety
The transition back to class can be a stressful time for children and parents alike. Children may exhibit nervousness about new routines, schoolwork or social interactions. Some of this is a normal part of back-to-school jitters that diminish after the first few weeks of school. To help ease your child’s back-to-school anxiety, parents can:
Arrange playdates with one or more familiar peers before school starts. Research shows that the presence of a familiar peer during school transitions can improve children’s academic and emotional adjustment.
Visit the school before the school year begins, rehearse the drop-off and spend time on the playground or inside the classroom.
Come up with a prize or a rewarding activity that the child could earn for separating from mom or dad to attend school.
Validate your child’s emotions by acknowledging that starting school can be difficult but soon becomes easy and fun.