The mornings and evenings are darker, the days are cooler, and we are putting that late summer fertilizer on the lawn. Chances are, you have heard at least one kid say, “I’m bored”, and that you know exactly how many days are left before the school doors open. Once you have done the clothing and school supply shopping, there a few other things you can do to make the return to school easier on your kids (and you).
Schedules. Summer is a time of relaxed limits, with fewer hard and fast rules about bedtime and mealtime, but when parents are juggling work and changes in work and transportation schedules, there is often a clash between the need to stick to a schedule and the habits developed over the summer months. If you have not already done so, purchase a calendar or communication board that is posted for all to see. Until the schedule becomes a habit through practice, a visual display of individual family member schedules, pick up times and locations, and extracurricular activities will help to reduce the stress associated with the chaos of change. Older children can be taught to add important information into their agenda, mobile phone, or other electronic aids.
Time Management. With the need to add school, homework, and extracurricular activities into a famly schedule, there are natural limits placed on leisure activities. Screen time should be limited to one hour per day during the school year, and strictly enforced. Reminders about rules during the school year will be important for children to understand changing expectations. Designating and setting up a specific location at home, and designated times for studying and completing homework will help establish habits and expectations. If you have several students, it may be helpful to designate a time, or quiet hour, when all family members are engaged in quiet activities and all electronic devices are turned off.
Sleep and nutrition. Sleep and nutrition are also important to consider when developing child and family schedules. Allow enough time for your children to eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. The importance of sleep and breakfast can not be underestimated in preparing children to be ready, alert, and more focused when they arrive at school, especially as growth during the elementary school years is rapid. Lifelong nutritional habits are established early and based on habits learned early in life. Set your child up for healthy lifestyles.
Students of all ages will need adequate sleep in order to remain alert, focused, and attentive throughout the school day. Difficulty arousing or problems with daytime sleepiness could indicate that your child is not obtaining adequate sleep. Children and teens of all ages will need time to adjust to early bedtimes required for the school year. Start at least one week before school begins and require your child to go to bed one hour earlier each night until he or she is going to bed at the normal time to prepare for a school day. Maintain this bedtime schedule over the weekends and holidays as much as possible to reduce excessive sleepiness on Mondays.
Child Anxiety. Anxiety, worry, and apprehension are normal responses to change for everyone. Anxiety can be greater for children beginning school for the first time, those going to a new school, and those transitioning into middle or high school where the expectations for independence and organization are the highest. Start with familiarizing your child with the school, the walk to school, and if possible, his or her teacher(s). For middle and high school students, obtain and review their schedule to ensure they understand what materials they will need. Encourage or arrange to have your child walk to school with friends or neighbors. If your child is new in the neighborhood, introduce him or her to other children in the neighborhood and invite them to walk to school or sit on the bus together.
