With school wrapping up, finals and end of school jitters can create a lot of anxiety. Moving Forward PLC. is here to keep your routine intact even through the chaos, so that summer is a smooth transition.
Keeping on Task
When everything starts to seem like too much, it is time to start making lists and getting that calendar back up-to-date! Make sure that everyone’s tests are up on the calendar in addition to extracurriculars (it is a good idea to try and color code by family member). This way, if there is too much on a student’s plate, you can easily sit down with your student and prioritize activities for the next week. For example, if your student has a Math exam on Thursday then he/she might want to skip lacrosse practice on Wednesday night. It is important that you involve your child when deciding priorities because, later in life, the student will be able to do that by his or herself.
Also, it is good to, in addition to keeping your running family calendar on the fridge, encourage your older students to keep a running “to-do” list. This list should include the chores they need to get done, the tests they need to study for, the chapters they need to read etc. Here is an example of a typical student’s “to-do” list.
To-Do (Weds):
– make my bed
– walk the dog
– study for Math Test on Friday
– finish up English Grammar worksheet
– email coach about missing practice Thursday
– pack lunch for tomorrow morning
Reducing Stress
| Exercise | Eat Right | Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| If the world seems to be spinning too fast, encourage your student to slow it down and go for a jog, take the dog on a long walk, ride his/her bike. Even trying out the jump rope or picking some flowers will do the trick – anything that isn’t sitting in front of a book or computer screen. Exercise will clear your student’s mind and reinvigorate them in their studies. It will also put them in a good mood! | Even though stressful times seem to call for bad eating habits, fruits and veggies will actually give your student more energy to power through studying for difficult tests. Here is an example of a healthy day!
breakfast: Hard-boiled eggs |
No matter how much information is going to be on a test, your student is likely to do better if he/she has had a good night’s sleep. Hopefully, they’ve been doing their homework the whole semester and should already be prepared for their test. If not, staying up all night still won’t help them because they will likely be too tired to recall anything then next day. I suggest a solid 8 hours. |
Seamless Transitions
After you and your student make it through the last few stressful weeks make sure you don’t let your entire routine crumble. Sure, give them a few days off to lazy around the house, but make sure to put them right back on schedule not soon after. It is good to discuss the structure of your summer plan before it actually happens. This is a common misconception parents have – that summer shouldn’t be structured. This is not true. Come up with a good game plan for the summer days whether that be via swim practices, tennis lessons, or summer camps, make sure that your child will know what to expect when the summer days do finally come and won’t be caught off-guard when it isn’t a free-for-all.
