Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops, M.A., M.F.T.

I know many of you helped your child get ready to start school again, or maybe even for the first time.

As parents, we bought them new clothing, backpacks, notebooks, organizers and all of the other necessities that they needed for school.  We believed that in buying these things for them, we were helping start the year the right way – and that is a correct belief.

We started planning lunches (whether they were buying or bringing), and we made transportation plans for getting them to and from school.  Finally, we helped them ease into a bedtime that is appropriate for school, because summer is over.

Even though we believe we have done all of the right things, we may be wondering why our children don’t do well in school.

I think it’s important to help your child adjust their mindset about school and about how they will do.  What I’m suggesting is that we help our children prepare in so many ways for school, but we forget the emotional component in getting them ready.

It’s very important that as we are helping them physically prepare for school, we must remind them of how very capable we believe they are.  We must remind them and also give them the tools they may need to get through their long school days.  We must teach them how to deal with bullies and help them find the inner confidence to be successful and happy students.

I think it can start with a conversation regarding what was good and what was bad about the last school year.  Or perhaps what was easy and what was hard about the previous year.

Help remind your child of the tools they already have and take time to help them clean and sharpen them. Talk to them about what they are nervous about and calm them down by reminding them of all of their previous successes – and how proud you already are of them!

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, including a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger. For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909) 229-0727, or via email at nancyjstoops@verizon.net.  Nancy’s books, “Midnight the Therapy Dog,” and “Live, Heal and Grow,” are available at Amazon.com.