TIPS FOR TOTS: Starting the Year Off With a Bang

As parents now realize, the school year has begun and to help your Tot ease into this new year comfortably, stress free and joy filled, here are some suggestions:
*Update all essential contact numbers – emergency contact phone numbers should be current and working numbers.
*Be prepared to serve your Tot a healthy breakfast or be sure to have Tot eat a healthy breakfast at school.
*Establish a regular sleep schedule to allow Tot’s body to get into a routine to sleep better each night and get adequate sleep.
*Talk to your Tot about hygiene and how important hand washing skills are to your Tot and others.  Tots should wash their hands for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” or the “ABC Song”, this will allow most of the germs to be washed away.
*Prepare an emergency kit for mornings to be kept in the car for last minute kid emergencies.  Equip the kit with ponytail holders, hairbrush, sewing kit, breath mints, breakfast bar and loose change.
*Always notify teacher/office personnel at school if you will be out of town, give phone numbers and local contacts just in case an emergency develops.
*Make a door knob reminder list – organized by days of the week and jot down Mondays-sneakers, Tuesday-library books, etc.  Punch a hole at the top, thread a bright ribbon and hang on door knob going out the door everyone uses each morning.  Before leaving, check the reminder.  Happy school year!
*Before Tot leaves each A.M. – say something to boost your child’s self-esteem and confidence, be positive, reassuring and stick to your rules.
GREAT READS: A Good Day, Kevin Kenkes, 4-6 years; School Jobs, Jo Litchfield, board books, 2 years and under. Books take little ones through a busy day of pre-school or on the job.
Tissue Please!, Lisa Kopelike, 4-6 years, good manners go a long way; a hilarious story about good/bad manners.
Little Quacks New Friend, by Lauren Thompson, 4-6 years, a book about a new friend. 
A Boy Who Wouldn’t Share, Mike Reiss, Ages 4-6, this is a story about sharing.
-- Anne McGrady of Carroll County has been involved in early childhood education and training for parents of young children for more than 30 years. She has been awarded a Governor’s Outstanding Child Advocate Award and now serves on a governor-appointed state board pertaining to the welfare of children. She serves as a freelance early childhood consultant.