A Teachable Moment-August, 2011

As the stores begin stocking back-to-school clothing and notebooks, it's hard not to start thinking about the end of summer. Before we know it, school will be back in swing, and the barefoot, carefree, sunny days will be long gone...sigh.

Of course, it is important to plan ahead in order to get school supplies at a great sale price! In addition, it's important to help your child get accustomed to the idea that school, routines, hectic schedules and cooler weather, will all be here soon. But...before boxing up the bathing suits and taking out the sweaters, let's not rush into the fall and winter.

It's very important to teach kids the value of living in the moment and appreciating the experience at hand, before rushing ahead to the next thing. So, please, take the time to really enjoy the last weeks of summer together with your child. There are many different ways to live in the moment, right now, and here are just a few tips to help you do it:

Resist the urge to unpack and try fall clothing on your child before the first day of school. It may be convenient for you to see if your child has grown a size over the summer, but for kids, it's a sign to move on to the next thing. Rather, wait until a week or so before school starts. This will give you and your child a little time to plan without rushing the summer along.

Limit school supply shopping with your child to one or two specific outings-don't make it the focus of every day until school starts. If there's a lot to get done, do some of it without your child so that she can continue to be in the summer mode.