Time is really passing by quickly. Schools are opening in the area as we speak and others are preparing for that opening day. Teachers and students alike will be back to school preparing for the new year and readying themselves for another year of hard work.

Teachers across the area have been preparing themselves in the past few months by attending workshops and seminars and in the weeks to come their newfound knowledge can be applied to new students in their classrooms. Most students are already gearing themselves up for the new school year.

The summer break is over and it doesn’t seem to last as long as it use to. There was a time when you got out of school for the summer and it honestly seemed to never end. You were almost happy when school started again. Now, when you get out for the summer, before you know it, the buses are back in swing and the school bell is ringing.

Some school systems have adopted the full year school terms now so you don’t really know when the students are going to school and when they are not.

I can never say this enough, so I thought this again was the appropriate time to voice a few suggestions.

Parents, with the new school year you need to take a new attitude. It’s your responsibility to make a difference in your children’s success in school. Building a child’s self-confidence and self-esteem and providing family support all play important roles in a student’s success.

When the new school year opens, you need to take an active interest in your children at school. Don’t just send your child to school, but find out what’s going on in the school. Be an active participant in programs and attend parent-teacher conference.

It’s very important that you pay careful attention to changes, which may affect your child in their individual schools, and you need to pay attention to instructions from teachers about your child.

Yes, you do need to meet your child’s teacher(s) as soon as possible and keep in touch with them through telephone conversations or pre-arranged visits. Together, you may be able to prevent potential problems before they occur.

The more you know about what’s happening around the school with your children, the better the child will be.

It’s also important that you also instill in your children a love of learning. Red with them and show them how important it is for them to learn and how much fun it can be. Chances are the more time you spend with our child showing them how much fun learning can be, the more the child will find learning fun.

The first day of school can be a scary time for young children. That’s why it’s important that parents help calm the fears of their children by preparing them ahead of time. You must get your children excited about going to school. Take time to talk with your child and let them know that school is going to be exciting.

Help your child succeed. Be sensitive to your child and their concerns and be enthusiastic about the things they have learned to do on their own. Ask your children what they learned in school today.

Above all things, encourage your child to do the best he or she can do. Never belittle any task they have done; reward your child often and praise them for a job well done.

Children, just like adults, need encouragement for the good work they have done and parents must learn to listen to their children. Help make your child’s school year a success by participating in activities with your children and by helping your children adjust and do well in school. The rewards of a good education and unmeasurable.