These tips for getting off to a good start can boost children’s confidence, behavior and outlook socially and academically. The shift from summer to Fall can be a tough transition for both children and their parents, with greater structure, more activities and more stress. Help your children manage the changes by planning ahead and staying positive. Check out our tips to make it easier for the whole family.

Re-establish routines – take a week or two to gradually move up bedtime and wake-up time and let them practice getting up, dressed and eating breakfast earlier. Add in bedtime reading and chores if you didn’t do this during the summer. Talk to your child about the benefits of going to bed on time so they have energy the next day. Even preschoolers can learn to set an alarm clock to get up in the morning. Praise them for being a go-getter when they get up.

Create a launch-pad – a designated area for backpacks lunch boxes and important notices and homework papers to avoid last minute scrambles.

Set a time and a place for homework – avoid daily battles by setting up a time and place for homework. The best area is the kitchen or family room so they can be monitored and encouraged. Make sure there’s good lighting and room for books and resources. Plan ahead to be available during the homework hour to head off frustration and make sure the work gets done.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend “Meet the Teacher Night” – It is August 1 in Tempe, check your school website for other districts and attend to meet your child’s Teachers, the Principal and other staff. Arrange for a babysitter now, if necessary. Walk through the school if it is a younger child or a new school, and find their classroom, locate lockers, visit the lunchroom, and encourage your child to ask questions.

Here are the first days of school for some local districts:

Chandler – Monday July 21
Phoenix – Wednesday July 30

Tempe – Tuesday August 5

Gilbert – Wednesday August 6

Scottsdale – Wednesday August 6

Paradise Valley – Friday August 8

Glendale – Monday August 11

Clear your schedule for the first week of school and put off business trips, extra meetings and avoid bringing work home to you have time to help your child get used to the new  schedule. Have some planned frozen leftovers ready so dinnertime is easy.

With a few of these tips and strategies in place, your first days of school will create a good start to the school year and make for academic success all year.

If you need an extra hand, consider hiring an after school nanny. We’re currently recruiting candidates who will pick children up from school, fix a nutritious snack, help with homework, throw in a load of laundry, prep dinner, get the kids in the car with mouth guards, clean uniforms and socks, and drive them to sports practices or appointments. We take photocopies of their Driver’s Licenses, three year MVD Records and current Auto Insurance when they interview. When checking references, we ask prior families about their driving habits.They’re happy to grocery shop or pick up the gift for the weekend birthday party. Expect to pay $16-$18 per hour and we require a hour hour minimum per visit. Click here to fill out a Family Application. and Jenny, our Family Placement Counselor will give you a call to answer your questions.

Beth Weise

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Helping children face their fears takes time, patience and a strategy.
I was feeding the ducks with my two year old granddaughter at El Dorado Park in Old Town Scottsdale, when a City landscaping truck suddenly began it’s loud safety back-up beeping noise. For a year after that, she was terrified of trucks and loud noises and had to be held whenever she heard a truck go by, even if she was inside.

Use these six tips to help your child cope with severe fears. 

1. Take your child’s fear seriously. Don’t make light of it or dismiss it.
2. Help children learn more about what they’re fearful of by reading about them or watching videos.

This may help them face their fears. Having your child go outside on cloudy and rainy days may help if they’re afraid of severe weather. I took my granddaughter on field trips to construction sites. Mr French, the foreman at the renovation of the Rosen House in North Tempe, was very friendly and explained how the backhoe and grader worked together to level the road to the house. We also watched youtube videos of construction equipment and visited a yard full of construction vehicles on Rio Salado in Tempe West of the 101 Freeway. We got library books and bought books about trucks.

3. Be warm and supportive. Tell children, for example, if they’re afraid of severe weather, that thunder and lightning won’t hurt them and that storms are a normal part of nature.

4. Talk about the things they’re afraid of matter-of-factly. Don’t overemphasize dramatic or frightening stories.

5. Expose your child to what he fears in small, nonthreatening doses and be patient and sympathetic.

6. What if you have an unresolved fear, and you don’t want to pass it on to your child? Like spiders. The human brain responds to facts, details and knowledge. Learn with your child about spiders. Watch youtube videos and look for spider webs together.

I’m happy to say my granddaughter’s favorite toys are now trucks, and for several months, she had to sleep with Lightning McQueen, the tow-truck from the Cars movie.

Beth

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How to have a Great 4th of July with Your Family. Make plans today to not let this July 4th be just another day. Create a memorable celebration for your family.

1. Plan a 4th of July party. Invite another family over or a bigger crowd. We found some fun crafts and simple desert recipes online.

Find a patriotic movie to watch together.

2. Share your feelings of gratitude for living in the USA, like many families do at Thanksgiving. Go around the table and ask each person to share two reasons why they’re grateful for America.

3. Find a story from history to share with the children, or if they’re older, give each one an assignment and ask them to share a picture and some facts about their hero for your Independence Day celebration.

4. Use what you have on hand, like hands and feet, to create this 4th of July flag as a team effort.

The favorite traditions for our family of six kids growing up for the 4th were homemade ice cream, watermelon seed spitting contests, and sitting on the roof to watch the fireworks. From our home in North Tempe, we could see the big fireworks from ASU, SRP Pera Club, and three to four other locations.

Have a wonderful Independence Day and family day!
Beth

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If you live in Phoenix year round or are coming to get out of the snow and ice for a few weeks, make the most of your time here. Spring is a beautiful time to visit Phoenix so here’s a fun list of things to do.

Arabian Horse Show Feb 14-24 at Westworld in Scottsdale-Since 1955, the Arabian Horse Show is the largest event of it’s kind in the world and has grown from 50 horses to 2400, bringing the top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world. A win in Scottsdale means lots of attention in the breeding barns.

Phoenix Spring Training For the fans, Spring Training means great games, great players, jumbo hot dogs, cheap tickets, and the opportunity to get up close and personal with the athletes. Scottsdale is home to the San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Cactus League Spring Training The Angels will host the Chicago Cubs at Diablo Stadium in Tempe for their Spring Training and the Angels take on the Texas Rangers. Camelback Ranch in Glendale is hosting the White Sox and Dodgers and the Peoria Complex is hosting the Mariners and the Padres. The Surprise Stadium is the home of the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals.

Kayaking on  Tempe Town lake This is an urban lake just North of ASU and the Mill Avenue district in Tempe. They also have rowboats and paddle boats. The lake is just two miles long and there’s lots of skateboarding, biking, walking and horseback riding paths.

Arizona Science Center This fun interactive museum is great for ages 2 through adults. I brought my two year old granddaughter and my out of town company there and she kept busy for hours, but we had fun learning too!

Take a hike! Our family hiked in the Superstitions and my eight year old son said: “Oh, this is the desert!” It’s high desert and much more beautiful than in the alley, asd stunning in the Spring and the rock formations and Spring flowers are fabulous! Another short but fun hike is the Hieroglyphic Trail in the superstitions.

The Musical Instrument Museum in North Scottsdale is one of a kind, with instruments from all over the world, and has an interactive room where you can try out some instruments yourself.

Destination Station at the Arizona Museum of natural history runs through March 24 and is an interactive exhibit showing the inside of America’s orbiting lab and revealing the vast array of science and research being done in low earth orbit.

Arizona SCITECH festival 2013 Spearheaded by ASU, U of A, and the Arizona Science Center, this festival is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and math has expos, workshops, and tours in neighborhoods throughout Phoenix  for ages 3 to 103 now through March 17th.

If you’re staying at one of our charming Phoenix resorts, call for one of our trusted nannies to entertain the children while you enjoy a quiet dinner.

Beth

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