The start of the school year is upon us. This being the case, our Ultimate Transformation Moment takes a look at readying our children for the new school year. Previously, I discussed the transition that we as adults make, as we cycle from the summer months into the fall. However, our young people have a transition to make as well.
 
As our children end the summer months, some of them may have been inactive academically and physically. Here are some suggestions to help your child transition into an incredible academic and fulfilling year ahead.
 
First, transition your child’s sleeping routine. Get him to bed earlier. She will need her rest. During the summer months, they have the freedom to stay up late. As school approaches, start resetting their body clock to get them adjusted to going to bed at a time that allows them to get eight hours of sleep.
 
Second, transition their eating habits. One of the most difficult things for our children to do is endure from that first period class to lunchtime. Many of our youngsters don’t eat a healthy breakfast, and the breakfasts they do eat is high in sugar. Then they “crash,” or find that they’re not as attentive during the remainder of the school day, once the sugar has worn off.
 
Third, transition into an academic mode. Organization is key, so require your child to keep an assignment book. They should write their homework assignment in this book everyday. This is your guide to what they’re doing on a day-to-day basis. 
 
Additionally, overall effort is vitally important. We’ve got to make sure our children focus on giving 100 percent effort in everything. If we can get our young people to always give their best in whatever they’re doing, especially their academics, it will always put them in a position to succeed.
 
Monitor how much effort and time we see our children putting the into day-to-day academic activities. We have the tendency to support them all the time in their athletics, but not with academics.
 
Make it comfortable for them to ask you questions. If you don’t know the answer, help them find it.
 
Finally, parents, you need to participate. At the beginning of the year, there are orientations, and parent club meetings. Get out and participate. Go meet your child’s teachers. Go to the school. Attend the parent meetings. This is the only way our children’s voices are going to be heard.
 
This overall transition is a guide to a successful new school year. With your help, your child can be successful, build upon that success, and use that educational base as the way to improve themselves, and ultimately, give back to their community.
 
That’s our Ultimate Transformations Moment. Peace and be more.