Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Jenni Sebora Column, 10/11/04



With the school year beginning, we all want our children to have positive, successful experiences. Here is a list of ways we, as parents, can help our children succeed. I hope your child’s school year is off to a good start!

• Work as a team with your child’s teachers and school. Think of school as a partnership.

• Make sure your child has a good breakfast every day.

• Pay attention to the work your child brings home from school each day.

• Never do homework for your child. Assist them.

• Help your child get ready for school the night before.

• Help your child set up a special study area and time frame at home to do homework. Consistency is the key.

• Don’t say negative things about a teacher or school in front of your child.

• Remember that you are your child’s most important teacher.

• Don’t make excuses for your child when his/her homework isn’t completed.

• Help your child to be well-organized, well-rested, and appropriately dressed for school each day.

• Join an organization at school.

• Don’t use the word “stupid” with your child. It is a harsh word that has negative impacts.

• Monitor the amount of television and video games and the types of programs your child watches and plays.

• Encourage your child to talk about what happened at school each day. Ask them questions.

• Ask for meetings/conferences with teachers and/or the principals when and if trouble begins. Don’t wait until the problem becomes full-blown.

• Respect your child as an individual with individual needs and talents. Don’t compare a child to sibling(s).

• Know what is going on at your child’s school and attend school functions.

• Impress upon your child that education is important, as well as attendance.

• Find something in your child’s work to praise them about. This can have a positive domino effect.

• Read with or to your child every day.

A great book to read with your child is “Franklin Goes to School,” New York, Scholastic, Inc., 1995. Franklin is a bit worried about his first day of school. Children will love this story about discovering the fun of learning.

Now is the time to take your child to an apple orchard and pick some apples.

A fun place to visit for autumn activities is Nelson Farm, located west of Litchfield. There is a corn maze, pumpkins to purchase, animals to view, and a variety of original and fun activities you and your child can participate in. There are concession stands, as well.

If you want to create your own scarecrow, bring along some scarecrow clothes (old jeans or overalls, shirt, etc.). They have the hay/straw and string available to stuff your scarecrow.

After spending time outdoors in the crisp, fall weather, a steaming bowl of soup will take the chill away.

Harvest Soup

1 large carrot

1 large potato

1 medium onion

1 stalk celery

3 cans of chicken broth

3 packages frozen mixed vegetables

Peel and dice the carrot, potato, and onion; chop celery. Place the chopped vegetables into a pot and add the chicken broth. Heat and bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the frozen mixed vegetables and simmer for another 10 minutes.

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