Whether you feel ready or not for this school year, it’s here. Remember that successful learning begins in the home. We are examples to our kids and we do much of the teaching right at home. Whether you have young kids, teenagers, or even college-bound students, creating a conducive environment at home is essential for a successful academic journey. Let’s get our mindset and home set up for the best success for the new school year.
Here are 6 steps to help you support your children’s learning at school.
1 – Set Up a Family Planning Board
Set up a family planning board. Mine is a large cork board in the kitchen. It has a small whiteboard on one side and a family birthday calendar on the other. The middle has a large calendar where we write everything down. On your main family calendar schedule in all of your priorities like dates with your husband, and your children; appointments, school activities; helping others, and more. We color code our calendar and then it is easy to see what the priorities are.
Appointments
Try to schedule all your routine appointments, errands, and outside events on the same day each week whenever possible. This routine helps me not miss important appointments and helps the kids know which days they may be pulled out of school.
Interruptions
When heart issues arise, stop everything to deal with them. Always bring your children back to trusting God. This will have an eternal impact. Show and model relationship priorities and make your children your priority at that moment.
2 – Organize and Declutter
Before the school year starts, take some time to declutter your home. Chaos produces a paralyzing overwhelm where you don’t feel like you have a handle on anything. Go through your kids’ rooms, common areas, and study spaces to get rid of any unnecessary items. Organize school supplies, books, and other materials to ensure everything has a specific place. A clutter-free environment promotes concentration and reduces distractions during study sessions.
3 – Create a Dedicated Study Space
Designate a specific area in your home as a study space. It could be a corner of the living room, a spare room, or even a well-organized nook in the bedroom. Equip this space with a comfortable desk or table, ergonomic chair, good lighting, and all the necessary school supplies. Having a designated study area helps children and teenagers focus better and signals the brain that it’s time for learning.
4 – Encourage Reading
Create a reading-friendly environment in your home by setting up a small library or bookshelf. Stock it with age-appropriate books, magazines, and educational materials. Encourage a daily reading habit for all family members. Reading not only improves language skills but also fosters a love for learning and exploration.
5 – Foster a Positive Learning Environment
Lastly, create an atmosphere that fosters curiosity and a positive attitude towards learning. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small, and provide constructive feedback when needed. Support your kids’ passions and interests outside of academics, as well-rounded development is essential for success.
6 – Trust God
Our children should know that although we are not physically with them, God is. They can pray anytime they feel lonely, stressed or afraid. Click for 5 steps on how to teach your kids to pray. And as parents, we should pray daily for our kids as well. Sometimes our prayers are focused like “God please help Jenny prepare for her tryout. Give her courage and strength to do her best.” Other times it is just “God be with Jackson, you know what he needs today.”
Embrace the Academic Year
By following these tips, you can transform your home into an ideal space for learning and personal growth. Preparing for the school year not only helps kids and teenagers succeed academically but also strengthens family bonds through shared responsibilities and a nurturing environment. Embrace the new academic year with hope, love and a well-prepared home!
Amber has a BA in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Human Resources. She spent 9 years working in youth and multi-generational ministry where Amber focused on making faith fun. Her book, The Beginner’s Guide to God, is for anyone wondering how to have a relationship with God. She is the author of the blog AuburnRaven – Balancing Faith, Family & Fun where she writes about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her passion is introducing people to God’s love and biblically equipping parents and teachers so children can grow in faith. Her journey, tips and lessons can be found on her blog www.AuburnRaven.com. You can connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
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