Four Simple Tips to Ensure a Smooth Transition Back to School

ATLANTA, Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With summer fading and school starting, many parents struggle to transition young school children back to a focused regimen. Parenting expert Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central, and Astrobrights Papers team up to offer advice for families on how to ease the transition into nightly homework, after-school activities and the struggle to keep kids motivated.

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DeBroff, the author of four bestselling parenting books, has offered expert parenting advice for more than a decade. She explains that the back-to-school season often goes hand-in-hand with recurring issues that can impact the quality of a child's education.  These tips can help parents create a positive learning environment for years to come.

"Parents can greatly shape the educational development of their children through constructive interaction when undertaking homework assignments," said Astrobrights Brand Manager, Kristen Hogan. "But it's a fine line between being a helpful parent and one that may detract from a child's learning experience."

The tips are part of a larger program to give kids and parents the right tools to learn. Astrobrights recently launched a Facebook page that is filled with helpful content, projects and tips that are designed to the right habits for kids to enjoy a lifetime of learning and creative expression. 

Additionally, here page visitors can enter the Astrobrights Facebook Sweepstakes until September 10, 2012 for a chance to win a $30,000 school supply donation to a K-8 school of their choice.

Four Tips For Smooth Back-to-School Transition

Tip 1: Homework: "Help, don't do," your kid's homework.

According to a survey by AskKids, 43% of parents admit they've done their children's homework. DeBroff has seen the negative effects of co-dependent parenting on the homework front and offers advice on how to avoid taking on the work yourself (even if it's easier!).

Stacy says:

• It's better for children to learn from their mistakes than to never have any. Every equation and assignment is a building block to a greater goal; don't weaken the infrastructure by letting your child skip the next step. 
• Parents need to recognize when they've overstepped. When you refer to the assignment as "our" project or send your child to bed while you finish the diorama, you've gone too far.

Tip 2: Organize the Paper Chase

Organization doesn't come naturally for most children, but they benefit by learning organizational skills when it comes to school. They'll be less likely to forget assignments, misplace important material, or turn in messy, incomplete work.  

Stacy says:

• Kids find it a challenge to make progress on homework assignments if their workspace overflows with papers, notebooks and supplies. Introduce kids early on to binders, file folders and other tools to control the chaos.
• Children are visual learners. Color-code subjects and make it difficult for children to mistake one binder for another. Astrobrights Papers offers a range of bright products that effortlessly stand out and are perfect for color-coding. Remember, the more a child has a hand in organizing, the more likely they are to utilize it!

Tip 3: Teach Time-Management Skills  

Time-management skills go hand-in-hand with tackling homework assignments.

Stacy says:

• Foster independent learning and build time management skills in your child by committing to a consistent afterschool routine for homework and activities.
• Help kids get a better understanding of time management by working together to determine the timing involved in an assignment, as well as helping to map out key milestones and deadlines.

Tip 4: Clarify Teacher Expectations

Does the teacher want to see perfect spelling or grammar, or does she want to see homework "as is" as a way to evaluate kids' progress?

Stacy says:

• By having a better understanding of what teachers look for in school projects and homework assignments, parents can more easily provide kids with meaningful advice.
• Teachers want to see kids' work, not grade parents' interpretation of the homework assignment. They don't expect perfection in what kids hand in -- let them learn to succeed for themselves.

Want more?

For more back-to-school tips from Stacy, visit MomCentral.com. The website provides savvy advice to simplify and enrich the lives of busy Moms and their families. To learn more about staying organized this back-to-school season visit the Astrobrights Facebook Page to see how other parents stand out.

With budget cuts looming over schools nationwide, Astrobrights Paper leads the initiative to put quality supplies in the hands of our future leaders. Enter the Astrobrights Sweepstakes on Facebook for the chance to win $30,000 in school supplies for a K-8 school.  

Related Links
Astrobrights Facebook Page
Mom Central

SOURCE Astrobrights