Back to school season is here! This time of year can be both exciting and stressful for children, so it's important to make sure they feel well-prepared for the school year to come.

We put together our favorite back to school tips and tricks from fostercare.com and Children's Educational Services to make the transition from end of summer to the start of school a little bit easier! 

With camps, sports, and more, children's summer schedules may not match up with their school schedules. This is why it's important to develop a good routine and have it be established before school actually starts. This includes things like a sleep routine, where kids go to bed earlier each night until reaching the desired "school night" bedtime, starting a healthier, a more balanced diet, and adjusting daily screen time.

One great way to get your child more interested in the back to school transition is to allow them to get involved in the process! Some ways to do this include:

• Creating a back to school supplies shopping list and taking them along to pick out items
• Going through their closet to get rid of items that no longer fit
• Looking for lunch ideas together or have them help pack their lunch
• Encouraging your kids to lay out their school clothes the night before
• Having your kids set realistic goals for the new year, such as reading 30 books
  
• Helping your kids develop a filing system for organizing their documents for each class
  
• Discussing what your kids can expect on the first day so they feel more prepared
  

It's important to plan out extracurricular activities each week to avoid over- scheduling! Create a family calendar that tracks everyone’s activities and commitments; that way, it's clear what needs to get done each week, and you're able to figure out in advance how everyone will get where they need to be. It's also important to establish a set “Family Time,” whether it’s during dinner or before bed!

Communication with teachers is key when making sure your child is successfully transitioning into a new year. If you know your child’s teachers, daily schedule, etc., you will be able to support them with whatever they need. You can also ask teachers for class rosters so you can arrange playdates with new classmates!

Finally, the end of summer doesn't have to be sad! End the summer in a fun way to help out your child's back-to-school stress. Whether it's a day at the pool or a family dinner at their favorite restaurant, there are a lot of ways to end the summer on a positive note. 

Looking for fun camps and activities in the Athens community this summer? Look no further! Summer is a great time for children to explore different interests, make new friends, and, of course, learn and grow! Below is a list of different experiences for children, from toddlers to teens, available in Athens-Clarke county.

General Pool Hours: A variety of pools and splash pads are available throughout Athens for only $1 admission! Pools include Bishop Park (705 Sunset Dr.), East Athens Community Center (400 McKinley Dr.), Lay Park (297 Hoyt St.), Memorial Park (293 Gran Ellen Dr.), and Rocksprings Park (291 Henderson Ext.); Splash pads include Rocksprings Park and Walker Park (200 Trail Creek St.).
Pool hours are as follows:
Tuesday-Friday, Sunday: 1:00 - 5:30 PM
Saturday: 12:00 - 5:30 PM 
*Closed Mondays | $1 Admission  per visit
​

• Swim School: Through Athens-Clarke Leisure Services, children ages 3 and older can participate in small group swim lessons. 
  The lessons are three, 45-minute classes a week for three weeks. This totals nine lessons, and lessons are offered at the Bishop Park, Lay Park and East Athens Community Center pools. 
  • [Children must be potty trained to participate in Swim School]
• Parent and Tot Swim School: Offered at Bishop Park, the goal of swim school is to introduce children 6 months-3 years old to the water. These classes are taught by certified lifeguards in 45 minute sessions.
• Kinderswim: The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Kinderswim program is offered to all Athens-Clarke County 5-year-old children for FREE! The goal of the program is to help ACC children learn to swim, and participants who complete at least seven of the nine lessons receive a free pool pass for the remainder of the pool season. 

Art camps are a great way to allow children to explore their creative sides and learn something new! The Lyndon House Art Center offers great opportunities for children ages 5-11 through their Mini Art Camps!

• Art Time [ages 5-7] | Lyndon House Arts Center, 9AM - 1PM
  • Offers a range of fine art media that may include 2D and 3D, painting, drawing, printmaking, paper-making, ceram- ics, video art, and more.
• Art Academy [ages 8-11] | Lyndon House Arts Center, 9AM - 3PM
  • ​"This Art Camp, with a very low child/ adult ratio, offers students the opportunity to be curious and open to new ideas while developing new skills and having a really great time being creative at the Arts Center." [ACC Leasure Services]
    

Getting active or trying out a new sport is a great way for kids to spend their summer. There are plenty of great camps in Athens-Clarke county for children to try dance, basketball, tennis, soccer, and more!

• Dance Camp | 8:30 AM-12:30 AM | East Athens Educational Dance Center
  • This half-day dance camp give children ages 6-15 the opportunity to learn different types of dance such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, West African Dance and Drum and Hip Hop!
• Basketball Mini Camp | 9 AM-12 PM | East Athens Community Center
  • This introductory basketball camp helps new players ages 6-12 learn the basics of basketball. 
• Flag Football Mini Camp | 9 AM- 12 PM | Trail Creek Park 
  • This camp, designed for children ages 7-12, teaches children the fundamentals of football.
• Skate Mini Camp | 9 AM- 12 PM | Southeast Clarke Park
  • Campers ages 6-12 learn new skateboarding skills and improve what they already know! **Helmet and skateboard required**
• Soccer Mini Camp | 9 AM- 12 PM | Southeast Clarke Park
  • Soccer is a great way for children to improve their coordination and motor skills! This camp is designed for children ages 7-12 tp introduces them to soccer.
• Tennis Mini Camp | 9 AM- 12 PM | Bishop Park & Tennis Center
  • This is a great way for kids to develop their tennis basics in a positive and fun environment! [No racket required]
• Camp-a-Palooza Gymnastics Day Camp | 9 AM- 4 PM | Bishop Park 
  • This weekly camp is intended for children ages 6-12 and offers a different theme each week! From Zoo Week, to Aussie Adventures, to Super Heroes & Villains, children will be able to try out gymnastics challenges, arts & crafts, and group games.

Ages 6-12: East Athens Community Center Cruise into Fun Day Camp
Each week, the East Athens Community Center introduces a different topic fo their all-day camps! Lasting Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM, these camps allow children to explore topics such as Art Expression, Design & Engineering, Brain Games & Activities, a "Camper Spotlight" talent show, and more!

Teens: East Athens Community Center Athens Teen Camp
The East Athens Community Center offers great options for teens campus that explore a variety of topics that help kids develop and use their creativity, critical thinking skills, and teamwork abilities. Some of our favorite themes include "Techknowledgy," where campers learn about tech topics such as video creation and 3-D printing, and "Teen Choice," where campers have the opportunity to work together and design their own week of camp!

All Day Nature Camp: Wander-Ful World of Wildlife at Memorial Park Camp
This camp is a great opportunity for campers to explore the outdoors and experience nature-centered activities revolting around themes such as "Guardians of the Zooniverse" and "ZSI Zoo Scene Investi-gators." Located at Memorial Park from 9 AM to 4 PM, this camp is designed specifically for kids ages 7-12. 
​
​