How Parents Can Make the Most of the New School Year 

These four tips will help keep parents and students alike on track as the school year ramps up. 

At Indiana Gateway Digital Academy (INGDA), we know the new school year brings plenty of mixed emotions for parents: excitement of something new for your kids, relief at the return to normal, and perhaps anxiety at the overwhelming volume of tasks to do in preparation. It’s common for parents to approach the new year with optimism as they attempt to build a new daily structure for the family, only to watch their best-laid plans fall to the wayside. 

With the new school year underway, now is the perfect time to break the cycle of overwhelm and build lasting, healthy habits. The key is to be deliberate with your time and planning. Here are four simple, effective steps you can use to help create a phenomenal school year. 

1. Alarms to Stay on Track 

How many times have you dismissed a calendar reminder on your phone during a busy day, especially when it’s not for a meeting coming up in the next 15 minutes? Calendar reminders are effective for events, but they can be easily missed or ignored as to-do reminders. An alarm, on the other hand, cuts through the noise of the day. Try setting a daily alarm to remind you to read school communications, respond to teachers’ emails, or review your child’s homework. This intentional practice can help you stay on track, and repetition will help these actions become part of your daily routine. 

2. Healthy Lifestyle Habits 

Healthy habits play a big role in your child’s school performance—not to mention their overall well-being. Ensuring your child gets good sleep, eats balanced meals, and stays active will set them up for a strong start to the school year and encourage them to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Research even links regular family dinners to better health and stronger academic performance. Plus, it’s a chance to hear more about school and unwind together after a busy day. 

Don’t forget, these same healthy habits are good for parents, too! 

3. Support Systems 

“It takes a village” is a common phrase for a reason! A reliable support system for parents and guardians can make a big difference in your child’s education. With their enrollment at INGDA, you have the opportunity to join our Learning Coach Community, where parents and guardians connect and share tips. Read how one parent found support when her daughters enrolled at INGDA here. You can also check out the Learning Coach Corner for more tips and tricks for starting your role as an LC!  

Support systems also extend to academic excellence. If your child struggles with certain subjects or wants to get ahead, working with a tutor can ease pressure on both of you and help your child reach their goals. Whether you choose a local tutoring center, a private tutor, or a virtual option like K12 Tutoring, you have options that can meet your family’s unique needs. 

4. Positive Thinking 

Being a kid isn’t easy, and they all have a rough day here and there. By practicing positivity, you can support their academic performance, build resilience, and boost their mental and emotional well-being. In fact, a Stanford University study found that having a positive attitude toward math improves the function of the brain’s memory center and can impact a child’s performance in the subject. 

Simple habits, such as encouraging your child to list good things that happened throughout the day or reciting positive affirmations, may seem small, but their impact grows over time.  

The first month of the 2025-2026 school year is in the books, but it’s never too late to incorporate new practices that can make a big difference in the long run. Start with one of these habits and build from there. You’ll be well on your way to making this school year your family’s best one yet! 

Learn more and enroll today!