Are Fall School Carnivals Worth It, or Just Too Much Work?
/It’s officially fall. Autumn.
Crisp days and cold nights.
Colorful leaves and corn mazes.
Pumpkin patches and apple picking.
Unless you don’t live in leaf-peeper territory.
Not a falling leaf in sight.
Most communities create annual fall-related events, even if they are in an area without typical fall weather.
Maybe your Harvest Carnival is like this.
Maybe you can wear shorts to your Fall Festival.
Or maybe your Fall Carnival takes place in a blizzard!
Brrr!
For some people, their fall to-do list is filled with enjoyable things, like take a bubble bath or drink pumpkin beverages.
Maybe YOU are an organizer of fall community activities. Or one of the many volunteers and donors who make these events fun for kids.
That’s a lot to do!
Take a deep breath!
Question: Are fall school carnivals worth it, or just too much work?
Answer: It depends. How far in advance do you start working? How many people are on your committee? How many people attend the event? What is the feedback after the event (both from volunteers and attenders)?
Does the carnival takes so much time and effort that people avoid you in the fall?
Maybe if she doesn’t see me, she won’t ask me to volunteer.
During all this fall fun, filled with apple cider and spiced pumpkin pie, regular life still goes on.
What if it’s your child’s teacher that is avoiding you?
What if your child tends to daydream or disrupt in class?
What if the teacher doesn’t seem to like your child?
Watch this 45 second video to see what our expert says.
Our children need our help. Even more so if they are affected by ADHD or autism or other disabilities.
We need to help our children work well with their teachers. Even when we are frustrated.
“Work to make contact, when you see her, have a smile on your face, and ask if she has a minute to talk.”
There is hope for your child with ADHD. Here are some teacher-talking strategies that parents find helpful:
ADHD can look different for every child, so let the teacher know what she’s most likely to see in your child. Perhaps your child has a hard time controlling emotions, like anger or anxiety. Or your child tends to talk out of turn.
Share school strategies that have worked in the past, and assure the teacher that you expect your child to do what he can to live up to school expectations, with teacher support.
Keep the list of behaviors short. Three is reasonable and actionable, and keeps you from sounding like a demanding parent. Be your teacher’s cheerleader! Teachers want the best for all their students.
You are a resourceful parent. What have you found works when talking to your child’s teacher? How will you be your teacher’s cheerleader today? Let us know so we can share with other parents just like you.
Treat yourself!
