CouNtDown To School_ favorite restaurant, and one great new toy the day before school begins. ing. Compile these into a book to give your son the night before school begins. 8. UP, UP AND AWAY 11. CHALK ONE UP Have your child _select a favorite postcard, then address and stamp it. Wrap it in plastic (this will keep it safe during inclement weather) and attach a note to a helium balloon saying something along the lines of: "This i8 my first day of school. I want to see how long it takes this balloon to get somewhere, and where it stops. Would you please let me know by writing down today's date and the city you live in, then dropping this in a mailbox? Thanks!" Using colored chalk, decorate the front steps or driveway for your daughter to discover as she heads off to school. Make a map of suc- cess, including a starting point and plenty of future triumphs: "You are named the smartest student in the history of your school!" "The princi- pal invites you to coach him on run- ning a great school!" "Your basket- ball coach says Michael Jordan has called to ask your advice on the game!" 9. MOM, ACE REPORTER Interview your child as he begins the school year and record the answers. Here are a few questions you might like to ask: What do you hope for at school this year? What do you imagine your teacher will be like? What do you want to accomplish for yourself? What do you think will be your eas- iest, and hardest, class? What new thing would you like to learn? Put away the responses in a safe place, then repeat the interview with your child on the last day of school (BEFORE you review the answers from the beginning of the year). It will be fun to compare the two sets of responses. 10. NOW AND THEN Ask family members (spouses, older children, aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents) to write a page recalling their first day at school, or ask them to write about school when they were young. Some ideas: a favorite teacher, popular songs at the time, favorite hangouts to get a Coke or \/ernors, what sub- jects they loved and loathed study- 12. BUT WHO'S COUNTING? Find a great calendar for your child, and mark in fun occasions to look forward to. On a random Tues- day, for example, you might write: "You get two desserts tonight." A few ideas: • "We're going out for ice cream after school." • "I'll make your bed this morning." • "You get $5 today to spend any . way you want." • "It's National No-Nagging Day! No matter what happens, I won't nag you from sun up to sun down. • "It's your choice: what's for dinner tonight?" 13. TAFFY PULL If your daughters or sons are nervous, or definitely not excited, as they antici- pate school, plan an unexpected event to divert their attention. A tafy pull is good because it requires con- centration (in preparing the recipe) and physical exertion, as well, as all of you yank that candy — and then eat it, of course. 14. BY DESIGN If your child has any interest in art (and most boys and girls do), buy a collection of lunch bags and have him/her decorate them for Use throughout the year. A parent can help out, as well. Younger children will love mazes, funny faces and love notes from Mom and Dad, but don't try that lovey stuff with older children. Jeez, you remember what it was like when you were 15 and your mom still insisted on kissing you goodbye when your friends were watching, don't you? 15. PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HEART IS In honor of your child's first day at school, make a donation to a favorite charity or institution. Since the topic at hand is education, consider a Jewish day school or a school for children with special needs. If you select the latter, take a few minutes to learn about the subject, as well. For example, do you have any idea how the system of Braille got its name? Louis Braille (1 809-1 852), who was left sight- less after a childhood accident, never knew how important his contribution would become. He created a reading code, using 43 symbols, to help the blind read. But everyone — from the school for the blind where he worked to the French Royal Insti- tute of Science — completely rejected his idea. Braille died of tuberculosis when he was 43, though a young friend, a blind pianist named Therese, continued his work. Only when she caught the attention of French Emperor Louis \apoleon was Braille's system finally accept- ed. 16. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE Find a favorite quote about children and education and place it in a prominent spot in your home. Refer to it if you ever feel discouraged about helping your child with her home- work. Here are a few to consider: "A child's mind is not a pot to be filled but a fire to be kindled." —John Locke (1632-1704), in Some Thoughts Concerning Education. "Those who educate their children are more to be honored than those who produce them; the latter gave them life only, but the former give them the art of living well." — Aristotle (384- 322 B.C.E.) "Ignorance is the night of the mind, a night without moon or stars." — Con- fucius (c. 551-479 B.C.E.) "Learning is treasure no thief can touch." — Asian proverb "See everything; praise most things; overlook many things; cor- rect a few things." — Pope John XXIII (1861-1963) 17. CHAPTER ONE • On the first day of school, give your child a present that's both educational and from the heart: a copy of his father's favorite book. 18. DAD GOES BACK TO SCHOOL Consider one of your daughter's favorite interests or hobbies that, to be honest, you find almost unbear- able. It might be a book series, a sport or a celebrity. Make it a point to learn a little about the interest or hobby and surprise her with your newfound knowledge. 19. QUIZ SHOW Give your child a blank notebook and ask her to write down small, interesting facts that she learns throughout the school year. After the first semester, have her test you on these.. 20. THAT'S THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES No matter what your child's age, he'll appreciate this old-fashioned tradition: When he comes home on that first day of school, have his favorite home-baked cookies and milk waiting for him at the table. 8/6 1999 Detroit Jewish News 129