An Ultimate Transformation Moment: Infinite Possibilities for the New School Year

by Erich Nall (Coach E)

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 to 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. Although, I stress the point of keeping our children active during the summer months in order to ease the transition into the school year, everyone may not have been so diligent. For those that have not remained diligent throughout the summer, 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 them to bed earlier. They will need their 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. Make sure they get in the habit of eating a proper breakfast in the morning. One of the most difficult things for our children to do is endure from that first period class to lunchtime. Many of our children don’t eat a healthy breakfast and the breakfasts they do eat, the food is high in sugar. They then “crash,” or find that they are not as attentive during the remainder of the school day, once the sugar has worn off. We need to make sure they have proper nutrition to start their day.

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 and it’s also their checklist to make sure they have completed each assignment. Sometimes all we have to do is get in the habit of finishing a project and we become better.

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 time we see our children putting the effort and time into their day-to-day academic activities. We tend to have the tendency to support them all the time in their athletics. Let’s put the same effort into providing them with support in their academic endeavors. Make it comfortable for them to ask you questions. If you don’t know the answer, help them find it.

Finally, parents, we need you 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 club meetings. This is the only way our children’s voices are going to be heard. They’re not going to be heard through themselves. They’re going to be heard through their parents participation and it puts you in the position to demand a better education for your child. Your participation is key.

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 through their personal success.

That’s our Ultimate Transformations Moment!

Peace and Be More!

(Erich Nall is the Owner and Founder of Ultimate Transformations Training ( HYPERLINK “http://www.ultimatetransformations.com” www.ultimatetransformations.com) in Los Angeles, California. He has coached and trained many successful professional athletes, actors, models and others in the entertainment industry for the past 18 years. The certified trainer, nutritionist, HYPERLINK “http://ultimatetransformations.com/utt2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=15” motivational speaker, and dedicated life coach is a regular guest and commentator on KJLH 102.3 FM’s the “Front Page with Dominique DiPrima.” As Founder of Collegiate Search Youth Organization, Erich has been assisting youth in the community for over 20 years.)