Getting Kids back to their school routines
Summer was a blast! But now it is time to get back into school shape. Late nights, vacations, and summer holidays can have kids accustomed to a more freeing schedule, making the first couple weeks of school a bit more difficult for them and for their parents. So how do we help them ease the transition back to school?
Set bedtimes
Now that school is approaching, let’s focus on the bed routine. Some parents stick with a bed routine all summer, but most do not. If you are a parent who lets the bedtime routine slack for a couple of months, no worries! There is a way to get your kiddos back on track. Two weeks before school starts it is a good idea to get the bedtime routine back on track. Showering on a schedule, going to bed at a reasonable time, and waking up earlier. With the right amount of sleep, a child can be more motivated and focused for school. According to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, preschoolers (ages 3-5) should be getting 10-13 hours of sleep a night. School-age children (ages 6-12) should be getting 9-12 hours of sleep a night. Teenagers (ages 13-18) should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Knowing this should allow you to come up with a schedule that benefits not only your child, but yourself and their teachers as well.
Hygiene
As mentioned above, getting your child on a hygiene schedule is a very important part of returning back to school. Taking a shower and brushing teeth regularly assists the child in a healthy lifestyle, while ensuring that they understand what is required of their back-to-school schedule. Having a healthy hygiene routine can boost the child’s self-esteem, which is often needed in school situations. It also helps lower the amount of germs spread at school, causing less sickness at home. Each family is different with their hygiene schedules, but a good rule of thumb is to brush teeth two or three times a day, while showering once a day, or every other day, depending on the child’s age.
Shopping
We all know about back-to-school shopping. It can be very stressful for the parent during this time, and usually exciting for the child. When thinking about back-to-school shopping it is easy to focus on the obvious, clothing and supplies. However, there can be more to think about when going through this process. If you will be packing school meals for your child, it is important that you consider the right foods to help with their middle of day time. Healthy foods, such as fruits, protein, and vegetables, go a long way ensuring that your child can continue with their day alert and feeling well. They will also assist your child with the all too common back-to-school sicknesses that are shared from kid to kid. If back-to-school shopping and your budget is a concern for the parent, I suggest utilizing the online marketplace and thrift stores to assist in the cost. Many communities will also have back-to-school drives to help with school supplies.
Have a conversation
Talking to your children about returning to school is very important. They can understand what is expected from them if there is an open communication about returning. Letting them know who their teachers will be, what their schedule will look like, if they will take the bus or be driven, and how to act at school. This can help enforce school guidelines, as well as let the child know what is expected of them and what is expected from the parent. Talk openly about upcoming homework. If your child is in grade school, it is safe to say that reading will be a part of that homework. Getting on the ball early and encouraging your child to read nightly could assist them in the upcoming expectations.
Praise
Going back to school is exciting and easy for some children, while others dread this upcoming school year. Praising your child for everything that they are doing to get ready for school can help them boost their self-esteem, positively strengthen your relationship with them, and show them that you are excited for all that they have done and everything that they can do. Let them know how well they are doing on the new routine and how proud of them you are for accomplishing these tasks.
Written by Vanessa Probert, PCSW