10 BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS
M E R C Y H O M E F O R B O Y S & G I R L S

1 Get your child back into a school routine
While kids are on summer vacation, staying up late and waking up
late becomes normal. However, as the first day of school
approaches, it’s important to get children back onto a daily schedule.
Begin by setting the same bedtime every day, and waking up your
child at the same time every morning. Be sure to stick religiously to
that schedule. While they may not admit it, kids crave structure, and
these rules will help you to enforce other rules at home.

Did you know?
Getting enough rest is an important part of your child’s success
at school. According to Harvard Medical School, a lack of sleep
can hurt your child’s ability to acquire and remember information
that he or she learned in class.
So, make sure that your kid is getting at
least eight hours of sleep every night!

2 Have the necessary school supplies
Schools usually send out a list of school supplies for what your child
needs. If they did not send you a list, you can contact the school to
see if they will provide you one.
You should also talk with your child to see what he or she wants for
school—this includes things for class, as well as new clothes your
child might need or want.
If you make a list and go shopping together, your son or daughter
will learn to take responsibility to be prepared for school.

Did you know?
Despite what you may hear, vaccinations for your child are
safe, effective, and “can save your child’s life.”
Be sure that you have all of your medical paperwork and
documentation ready when preparing your child for school.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin

3 Set goals with your child
“All A’s” may not be realistic for all children.
Discuss with your child specific goals for grades in each subject.
Go beyond grades and ask what your son or daughter is hoping to
learn in school.
Write these down together, and save them in a special place.

Did you know?
Get your child involved.
While researchers have found that extracurricular activities can
greatly help a child’s success in school and later in life, studies
from Brown University have found that extracurricular activities
are increasingly becoming a luxury for low-income families.
Have your child pick just one activity to reinforce the skills they
learn in school.

4 Get to know your child’s friends and parents
It can help to get to know who your kids are hanging around with.
Organize a gathering, such as a potluck, with them.
Making sure that your child is surrounded by good influences can
help ensure his success—inside and outside of school.

Did you know?
Negative role models can be just as effective as positive role
models. What does this mean?
Positive role models can display the benefits of certain behaviors,
while negative role models can display the costs of certain
behaviors.
Try and see what your child focuses on in order to better help
them establish positive lifestyle behaviors, such as responsibility,
integrity, and work ethic.

5 Find another adult to help
Identify someone who you and your child trust to encourage him or
her to learn and get excited for school—receiving additional
encouragement from a coach or a church leader may help your
child’s focus.
At Mercy Home, our Friends First mentoring program matches boys
and girls with an adult mentor in order to provide such positive
reinforcement.

6 Learn together with your child
Before school begins, set time aside in the afternoon to give your
child a lesson in your favorite subject. It can be as simple as showing
them a new skill in math, or reading from your favorite book and
discussing it.
Doing this not only helps your son or daughter get in the mindset of
doing schoolwork—your kid is also getting a head start on whatever
subject you cover!

Did you know?
According to a recent study, parents helping their children with
their homework won’t improve their grades, and can even lower
their performance.
However, by following tip #6, you can establish a set time that
your child will do their homework. That way, by the time the
school year is in full swing, your child is used to working at a
specific time and will be more likely to get to work when he or
she gets home.
Just remember to let your kid figure out the homework on his or
her own!

7 Get to know the faculty at school
At Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, we believe the most important
part of the school year is at the very beginning. Go to orientation
and meet with all of your child’s teachers and exchange contact
information. If you can, introduce yourself to the principal as well.
As the school year starts, be sure to check in with the teachers
regularly to see how your son or daughter is doing. The better of a
relationship you have with your child’s teachers, the better you will
be able to hold your child accountable.

Did you know?
Plan to attend parent-teacher conferences. Prepare ahead of
time with your employer if you need time off, but make this a
priority. School teachers report often that the parents who don’t
show up for the parent-teacher conferences are those whose
children are struggling.
Research studies have also verified this claim, saying that
“family engagement improves school readiness, student
achievement, and social skills.”

8 Be Positive
As mentioned earlier, mood can play a big
factor in your child’s success. Try and
maintain a positive attitude about school and
your child’s participation in school.
One of the best times to do this is when you
are waking your child in the morning.
Starting the day with a positive outlook can
help your child be more interested in learning.

Did you know?
A positive attitude can have
great health benefits! Try
having your child read a
positive quote each morning
before school to get them
started off on the right foot.
“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes. You
can steer yourself any direction
you choose. You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And you are the one who’ll decide
where to go” – Dr. Seuss

9 Check in on progress
Make time with your child to talk about his or her progress
toward the goals you set in #3. Put these goals on a calendar
and review them at least once a month.
Adjust the goals if necessary, but whatever
you do, don’t forget to check in regularly.
Our volunteer tutors work weekly with our
children in achieving their educational goals.

Did you know?
There has been a recent trend in child development
concerned with teaching children grit. While lauded as the
most important characteristic to teach your child, some have
argued against this movement.
Make sure to balance teaching your child a good school
work ethic with values unrelated to grit, such as creativity,
empathy, and curiosity.
Try taking your child to a museum to see how the subjects
they’re learning are applied in the real world.

10 Reward your child’s success.
Build on success, rather than dwelling on failure. At Mercy
Home for Boys & Girls, we take a strengths-based approach.
Our boys and girls are given more freedom and privileges as
they meet their goals.
Try asking your child what kinds of reward he or she would
like if a specific goal is met. This will help your child feel like
they are a part of the process, and therefore be more likely
to complete the goal.

If your child is having serious troubles in
school – a big drop in grades or discipline
problems – please reach out to someone.
You can contact Mercy Home for Boys &
Girls by emailing admissions@mercyhome.org
or by calling 877-24-START.
Partnering with your child’s
learning is a formula for success!