May has arrived, which means the end of school is near! As is true for many children, the end of the year can be tough as summer draws closer and school starts to wind down, but the year isn’t over yet. Children may still have testing and other final projects to complete, so they must finish the year strong.
Here are some ways you, as a parent, can help your child make it to the last day of school by still putting their best foot forward!
Continue Your Routine
It may be tempting to let your child stay up a little later to hang out with friends or finish that last episode on TV, but by staying on task with your child’s nighttime routine is one way to ensure that they will wake up refreshed and ready to finish out the school year strong.
Ensure you’re adhering to bedtimes and routines, such as brushing teeth, reading books, etc. This routine helps your child reset for each new school day!
Set A Goal
If your child works well with a reward system, setting an end-goal for the school year can motivate your child to keep performing well in school! This goal could be having a friend over to play, seeing a movie, or any other fun activity your child may not get to do as often.
You can break down this larger goal into manageable steps, so they can see their progress each day until school is out. Maybe you use a sticker chart or another visual aid like putting marbles into a jar. Either way, tracking your child’s progress of completing a school day and performing their daily tasks adds to the overall goal of finishing the school year strong!
Talk With Your Child
Make sure to have conversations with your child about how they are feeling now that school is coming to a close. While some children may be excited and ready for a change of pace, others may be sad about not seeing their friends as often or even nervous about what changes the summer might bring.
Letting your child know you are there for them throughout these last few weeks of school will help them feel supported and ready for a new change. This extends to academics, too! Final grades can be very stressful, but being a supportive outlet for your child can help them understand you are proud of all the work they have accomplished this year.
Lead By Example
Your child may not be the only one excited for summer, as I’m sure you, as a parent, are as well! Summer means family vacations or extra activities during different times of the day, which can mean talks of plans may happen around the dinner table or during the evening. It can be hard for your child to focus on their homework and end-of-year projects when the topic of summer keeps coming up.
Try to lead by example and show your child that summer will be here before they know it, but they must finish the school year strong. You can work with them on a project or ask to help them review any work they might have left over. Anything that can help you be hands-on and keep them on task is the best way to show you’re just as motivated as they are to finish the school year!
Refresh School Supplies
While it may seem pointless to do a refresh on some school supplies, it may be the last confidence boost your child needs going into summer vacation.
It’s probably been a while since you’ve restocked school supplies. With all the tests and projects that seem to pop up in the last couple of weeks of school, taking your child school supply shopping can be one fun last “school”-related activity to do and push them to give their best effort. Plus, you can scope out some supplies for next school year, too!
Prioritize Self-Care
With all the hard work your child is putting into their end-of-year projects, it’s important that you make sure they are taking time to take care of themselves. This can be in the form of personal hygiene, taking breaks away from their school work, or playing outside. Make sure that you prioritize healthy eating and sleeping habits for your child, which will set them up for a full day of activities at school.
By prioritizing self-care for your child, you are also showing that you are in tune with all the extra care and attention they are putting into their school work. This is just another way to ensure that the lines of communication are open and flowing between you and your child!
Engage With Your Child’s Teachers
It’s a great idea to check in with your child’s teacher as the school year ends. You can ask them if there’s anything specific that your child needs to work on within the coming weeks or if anything is outstanding that needs to be turned in.
This can also be a good time to get feedback on how your child has been in class since the last time you had a check-in with their teacher, and also if they have any recommendations for things they could work on over the summer. Your child’s teacher sees them each day; most likely, they’ll have some other unique ideas to keep them motivated through the end of the year.
Celebrate Their School Year Achievements
Remember to celebrate your child’s achievements throughout the school year! Celebrating all that they have done will only motivate them to finish the year strong and get ready for the next school year.
It’s essential to recognize their work and all of their great successes. It shows that you are actively participating in their lives and are interested in what they are interested in, which continues to create a crucial open dialogue at home. Plus, celebrating your child is fun for everyone!
Take Some Time Outside With School Work
Encourage your child to take advantage of the weather change and do schoolwork outside. A change of scenery can do wonders for motivating them to get their homework done! Plus, it gives them an idea of what’s to come after school, when they can play outside any time during the day, not just in the late afternoon and evening.
Reminding them to finish their school work while taking in some fresh air can be a win for both you and your child, by getting them outdoors.
Plan Ahead
The end of the school year can be a bit chaotic, especially when you combine school, sports, and other activities that happen on the weekend. You must be organized and help your child plan for the coming weeks. Depending on their grade level, they may have final exams or projects due on certain days or just have lessons they are wrapping up.
It’s important to set your child up for success by mapping out what the end of the school year looks like for them in the classroom and making sure they are clear of the expectations set before them. Whether you use a physical calendar to outline what things are due on what day or just talk through a plan of action, planning ahead is always a great idea for organization and motivation!
Summer is an excellent time for students to take a well-deserved break from school and have fun with family and friends, but these last couple of weeks of school can always seem to drag on for some children.
As parents, we also look forward to summer vacation for many reasons, but it’s vital to help our children stay focused and positive through the end of the school year! Ending the school year on a high note can only set them up for success when August eventually rolls around sooner than you may think.
