How to make this school year a success for your children

Social worker Janet Lehman posted some tips on empoweringparents.com on how parents can help their children succeed in the new school year, especially if they’ve had problems in the past.

Lehman recommends calling a family meeting and formally deciding as a group what things need to change for the better for the new school year. She advises parents to be realistic, specific and set the expectation for improvement. Once the school year starts, Lehman tells parents to find help among those who work at their children’s school and to remember that it’s never too late to change and implement structure into your child’s life.

“Don’t forget, you’re making this transition into the school year along with your child,” she wrote. “Try not to do it alone. Talk with your spouse and come at it as a team. If you’re a single parent, speak with other parents, family and friends. Be kind to yourself and reduce your own expectation that you have to solve everything. Try to say, ‘If it was a terrible year last year, this will be a better year. It may not be perfect, but it can be better.’ ”

Email: mgarrett@desnews.com