Spring is a time of new growth and new beginnings. After a long, winter, perhaps dormant because of cold and flu bugs, you and your child are hopefully eager to “spring” into action.

It is well known that children often go through a growth spurt in the spring that can be physical, intellectual, and/or social. Just like flowers start to bud and bloom with the warmth of spring, so to do children!

The school year is not yet gone! There is so much more to do and learn. Instead of thinking, “Why bother, 7 months have already gone”, think instead “we have 3 whole months to do even more.” Three months is ample time to make significant progress in speech, math, reading, or behaviour.

On the home front spring is always a good catch up time for things that have got postponed because of poor health or bad roads. Follow through with:

1. Getting a referral for sleep testing

2. Booking that long overdue hearing check up

3. Reviewing medication dosages, as your child perhaps has grown and is more active in the warmer weather

4. Reading the school’s IPP or your child’s PREP 3 or 4 report to look for ideas on how you as parents can support your child’s learning at school

5. Starting a home fitness and nutrition program

6. Sticking to regular bedtimes even with the longer days

From years of experience at PREP, the #1 tip to improve your child’s day is to send your child to school well fed and well rested.

Choices do indeed have to be made when evenings fill up with recreational activities. Routines should not be lost, they need to be changed. For example, an early mealtime will energize your child for soccer and allow you to still get him to bed on time.
School is a full day, five day a week commitment. Help your child to choose one evening activity, rather than be busy every school night. If your child has medical challenges, sometimes the right choice is to not be involved in extracurricular activities during the week. Then the best option is to sign up for activities on weekends.

Signs that your child is over tired:

• Picky eater

• Increase in or emergence of self stimulation behaviours

• Deliberate defiance – “I don’t care” attitude

• Emotional, cries easily

• Overactive – yes, some people do get “wired” when they are tired

• Trouble getting to sleep

• Short attention span, refuses to do school work

Parents can be very hard on themselves! They may feel that they are depriving their child of a favourite activity or that others think they are not good parents because they don’t sign up for week night activities.
You can counter that by saying: “My child needs his sleep.” 

Regular, daily exercise is not just sports or clubs. When asked to think back to their childhood, most people report that free play is high on their list. Spring is a great time to go to the playground, set up t-ball at the field, or go for a walk to look for spring crocuses.

After spring break focus on having 3 great months of school. Commit to:

• getting your child to school on time;

• regular attendance at therapy appointments;

• a home reading program;

• following through on school homework    assignments;

• and regularly asking your child’s teacher, “What’s next?”

Spring is a time of growth and you want to see your child’s skills develop and mature in all areas of development. Talk as a family about what is important and where you feel your child needs help.

School in the spring is full of change to name only a few such as track meets, provincial exams, field trips, Children’s Festival, and a host of other lovely diversions and wonderful distractions. With advance planning your child can thrive in these learning opportunities.

Tips to ensure your child can cope with changes in the schedule:

• always give advance notice – use a weekly visual schedule to highlight what’s the same, what’s different this week

• send your child prepared – water and nutritious snacks help keep children energized and happy on field trips

• pre-discuss with the teacher how your child will be supported – is his or her Education Assistant in attendance? or is there a parent volunteer? or is he in an assigned group?

• prepare your child for the event e.g., listening to a tape and talking about proper behaviour at a concert or studying black bears in advance of the visit to the bear habitat at the zoo

• send your child to school healthy – when thrown out of routine and pushed to keep up at special events– your child will not be a happy camper
  

Uncertain where to start? Need a boost? There are a number of options available at PREP:

1. Consult with your Family Support Liaison

2. Visit PREP Links to start a home computer program

3. Sign your child up for spring reading

4. Register for the Parent Retreat – the best time and place to get ideas from other parents

5. Inquire about Occupational Therapy or Speech Therapy Consults

6. Send your child to Zoo Camp (age restrictions apply of course)

7. Plan ahead for July –  three 8 day JumpStart Camps will be offered for students ages 8-14 years

Best wishes to all of our PREP families for a very Happy Easter, full of family fun!

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for 3 great months of learning.

By Barbara Tien, Executive Director

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