3 Tips to Remember on the First Day of School

My two daughters started school earlier this week. We took the obligatory first-day-of-school pictures of them in their uniforms with their book sacks. Not until we looked at the pictures from last year did we realize how fast they are growing up. As parents, it is difficult to actually see this transformation because we see them every day without realizing how much they are changing. It’s also difficult because we want them to remain our babies for as long as possible. But, we also know that we have to give them more freedom and responsibilities to allow them to grow and learn.

The first day of school is a milestone filled with mixed emotions for our children. They are anxious about homework, concerned about teachers, and scared of the unknown. But with all the negatives, there are plenty of positives. They are excited about reconnecting with friends and classmates and hearing stories about their summer adventures. And, thankfully for us parents, they are also interested and curious to learn new things.

We gave our girls the following three tips to remember this school year—tips that will help them throughout life:

1. All subjects are important. They don’t have to master every subject, but they need to know enough about each to provide a foundation for the future. We will help them understand the “why” associated with each subject, especially the ones that are their least favorite. Knowing why each subject is important will help them become more engaged.
   1. The humanities (Math, Science, English, Literature, Social Studies, and History) provide a baseline for us to contribute to society and be successful no matter what we choose to do with our lives.
   2. The fine arts (Art, Theater, and Music) provide an outlet to be creative and engage our imagination which helps us to think strategically and develop problem solving skills. This can also help them find fraud!
   3. Finally, Physical Education teaches us to live healthy lives through exercise. A healthy lifestyle provides a foundation for a positive attitude and self-confidence.
2. Being cool isn’t important. This is one of the hardest things to teach a child. My mother talked to me about this often because I was hurt by things people said to me or about me. I was also hurt when others didn’t include me. The pressure from our peers can be so crushing to our spirit. My mother’s advice didn’t register until I was older. Now, I find that I am sharing the same message with my children. We can face this same struggle at our jobs, and it takes courage to think different. Fighting fraud in the work place is definitely a sign you are different. We must celebrate our differences.
3. Be a life-long learner. School is one of the first steps in our journey to becoming life-long learners. It provides us with a base-level of knowledge to help us be successful in life. We must remind our daughters that learning doesn’t end with school. Life will provide them with many opportunities to learn and they must be willing to take advantage of those opportunities.

At this time of year, we need to encourage our loved ones. These milestones are important and are a great time to remind them of why school is important.