Students returning to school are always excited to see their friends, and while they will rarely admit it, they enjoy the structure and predictability of a school schedule. Most students are returning to the places of learning they left in May, and some will be learning to navigate new buildings and schedules as they have moved from elementary to middle school or from middle to high school. As a veteran educator, here are three healthy practices I suggest for the new school year.

Explore a non-academic pursuit.  

Children who have an outlet outside of school learn valuable lessons about time management and are less likely to fall behind in their grades or get into trouble at school.  Not everyone is an athlete, but in the Suwanee community, there are musical, artistic, and service opportunities where all children can find a place to shine, meet new friends, and learn to navigate their world. The August issue of Stroll Edinburgh highlighted how scouting has played a pivotal role in the formative years of many Edinburgh children.

It's your phone, check it.  

You bought your child a phone "for emergencies," and it has become a constant source of entertainment and a way to stay in contact with peers.  Who are your children communicating with? What are they watching/playing? Are they being respectful? Are they being respected? If you don't know, check YOUR phone that you let them use. In upcoming issues of Stroll Edinburgh, there will be feature articles from a resident technology professional about guiding our children through the dynamic world of online communication and commerce. We are excited to be a part of this new initiative and look forward to helping parents navigate this topic with their students.

If your child’s school contacts you with academic or behavioral concerns, listen and act. 

Oftentimes, parents jump to "defend" first.  A call from school is not an indictment of parenting; it's a request for support.  Teachers see your child in a setting that you rarely get to see.  While parents instill values in children, they cannot control their free will.  Children make mistakes. Mistakes that are addressed promptly and appropriately become life lessons. Take advantage of the opportunity to teach your child to navigate the world they live in, so you can be confident in the independence they earn from you.