Growing up, summer was a time of swimming, riding my bike, reading, and relaxing. I faced each day with ebullience until that fateful day when I would enter the local department store with my mom and note with a sudden dose of reality that summer did not last forever; the school supplies were once again positioned in the most prominent area of the store. To allay our first-day jitters, my mom would buy my brother and me a new outfit to begin the school year, and fill our backpacks with new pencils and notebooks.

Along those same lines, many organizations offer tips on how to send your scholars back to school with less trepidation (especially if your child is moving to a new school) and more motivation. A few good ideas that show your child the importance of education while not costing a fortune are listed below.

• Celebrate the first day of school by waking up early and sizzling up your child’s favorite breakfast. If your culinary interests are more prone to dinnertime festivities, create a fabulous after-school snack or meal complete with a celebratory ambience. Take a photo of your child with the same background every year (in front of the house, by the bus stop) to show how much your child has grown, and generate excitement in returning to school. Penning an encouraging note and surreptitiously placing it in your child’s lunchbox or notebook will surely bring a smile to his or her face when it is discovered. Ensure that whatever choice you make is one of celebration–your enthusiasm is key to your child’s state of mind.

• Supply brain food, not junk food. Grabbing a bag of cookies or chips is an easy way to satisfy hunger for a short amount of time, but empty calories are consumed quickly and often lead to childhood obesity. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables stocked in the refrigerator or pantry, or combine fruit and yogurt and freeze them in an ice cube tray or on a Popsicle stick for a great chilled snack. Nuts, cheese, and peanut butter contain protein, which will sustain your child for longer stretches. Add a dollop of peanut butter or melted cheese on whole-wheat crackers for great, filling snacks.

• Create an in-home wall of fame in your hallway or another area of your home. Display the latest art, superior grades, or positive comments from your child’s teachers.

• Make time for family. Children who interact with their parents on a daily basis are more likely to share information and situations with them. Keep apprised of your child’s life by setting aside time every day to listen to your child’s concerns. Many parents use the family dinner table for this endeavor, but it could easily occur ten minutes before bedtime rituals, or as a conversation held while the family walks around the block or takes a bike ride.

• Encourage your child to begin conversations with others. Meeting new people is often daunting for your child; with your assistance, have him or her approach a potential friend or uniformed worker in a grocery store and ask a question. Each encounter will build confidence and help your child to understand how to approach others, ask questions, and respond courteously. During the school year, these skills will help your child ask his or her teacher for assistance.

Help your child understand how essential education is, and guide the process more smoothly with these tips. For additional information on your child’s introduction to an Orlando private school, navigate through the news pages on our website. Share this post and add any other ideas that have worked for you. We would love to know how you approach the beginning of the school year, and share your tips with others who are striving to establish a successful academic environment.