Lawrence F. Rossow, the new dean of the School of Education & Human Development at the University of Houston-Victoria, recommended a few ways parents can help their children get it right by following the acronym RINSE. 

1. R is for Routine.

Having a routine is fundamental to student success.  While children may resist a time and place for this and that, psychologically they really want and need it. Have a family meeting to go over when they will go to bed, when they will get up, wash, eat breakfast, etc. during the school year. When will they be expected to leave the house for the bus or however they travel to school? What happens after school? Are they going to grandmother’s house right after school or to an after-school program? Go over as many of the details as can reasonably be remembered by a child. During the school year, a routine should be in place for what will happen during school nights. A time should be set aside for homework, TV or computer, and chores. Children who establish a predictable routine tend to fare better in school.

Even a teenager should be able to tell parents what their school day is going to be like even though they might be doing a lot of the planning themselves.  The whole family needs to know the teenager’s typical “agenda” for the various days of the week.

2. I is for Instruction.

Regardless of what their activities during the summer might have been, children need to begin getting back into reading. This works for children of any age. In the weeks ahead, parents can begin reintroducing reading into the day.  Also, parents can start refreshing arithmetic skills like adding, subtracting and multiplying. The idea is to get a “jump start” on learning by practicing school learning skills.  Even in the best students, there is regression in the summer. So to keep that in-school recouping period as brief as possible, parents should start reviewing those things their students learned during the past school year.

3. N is for Nutrition.

We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  The reason is brain function. When the child wakes up, the brain needs food. Otherwise, there will be problems with focusing and attending to tasks in school. The best brain foods are proteins and whole grains. For proteins, feed children different types of meat, eggs, milk and peanut butter.  On the grain side, you have oatmeal, whole-grain breads and whole-grain cereal.  Most of the cereals on the market today are whole grain, even the sugar-coated ones.  It’s important to make sure there is not an over abundance of sugar in any form in the morning, because too much sugar can cause problems similar to not enough food. Children don’t necessarily have to have a sit-down breakfast. Even a bagel, granola or breakfast bar eaten on the run will be a big help in class.

4. S is for Sleep.

This is the most important factor on the list. Recent studies done in Minnesota show students are simply not getting enough sleep.  They are sleeping less today than a generation ago.  This is not good for an adult or child.  Along with food, sleep is necessary for the brain to regenerate.  We know the average amount of sleep for an adult is eight hours.  A century ago, the average American was getting 10 hours of sleep.  This is what is recommended as a goal for the average school child −10 hours. Parents should start adjusting children’s sleep habits before school starts so they’ll be rested and ready to learn when school begins.

5. E is for Enthusiasm.

Parents’ attitudes about the beginning of the school year are contagious to children. Being enthusiastic is a key ingredient in getting off to a good start.  At the family meeting to discuss the school-year routine, express excitement about all the fun things that will be going on. Talk up a child’s teacher.  Perhaps take a child along when buying school supplies. Having them participate in getting things ready for the year is a good way to build enthusiasm, and that enthusiasm will help ease the transition from summer vacation.