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If you’re anything like me, you’re ready for your child to go back to school. Hannah didn’t want school to end and is ready to go back now, but it’s still a different schedule than what we have had the past couple of months. Actually, our summer has had very little schedule at all since it has been very hectic.
Your summer may have been like ours, or it may have been days of kids sleeping late, playing all day, and no school work. Quickly switching schedules can be about like going from 0 – 60 MPH in about three seconds and then coming to a dead stop.
Many of our kids have a hard time with transitions and changes in schedules. Gradually switching to the new school schedule can make life much easier for you, and for your child. Here are a few tips to help make the switch to the new school year as easy as possible.
Move up bedtime and rising time – If you have relaxed your child’s bedtime, or done away with a bedtime during the summer, ease back into the normal school time routine by slowly moving your child’s bedtime schedule back to the regular time. Depending on how much time you have, or how far apart the bedtime schedules are, you may want to change this by 15 – 30 minutes each night. Move it a little closer to normal each night rather than instituting the difference all at one time. The same with rising time. If your child is allowed to get up at a different time during the summer getting back to your regular rising time will be necessary as well.
Go through the routine – Have your child complete the routine for getting ready each morning. Our routine is that Hannah gets up, gets dressed, makes her bed, does her hygiene issues and eats breakfast. All these things must be completed in an hour in order for her to make the bus on time.
Homework time – Every child has homework, no matter what grade. Each family has a different routine for after school. Some families have a snack after school, others have some play time and still others have their child start homework right after school. Whatever your routine, have your child begin to get back into that routine now. You don’t have to have your child do homework during this time, but doing something in the homework “spot” during homework time will begin to get your child back on schedule. Drawing a picture, reading a book or another activity defined by you will establish the routine your child will have during the school year.
All of these things can be adjusted to the schedule or routine that happens in your home. Do what works best for you and your children and the school year transition should hopefully be a little easier.
