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Summer break should be just that for kids, a break from the routine they have during the school year. If your kiddos have gone from students to more like “free-range raccoons” this summer, good for you. It’s their vacation, so it should include lots of popsicles, playing, staying up way past their bedtime and possibly even no shoes with laces.
That’s all fun and fine until the new school year starts, which is just days away in some parts of the country. Months of being practically feral can make it hard for kids to transition back into school mode, but these realistic tips from educators, sleep specialists, and therapists can help make it easier.⠀
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- Think “baby steps” – You can’t just flip a switch and make it happen and trying to rush the transition can be a recipe for disaster. Gradually reintroducing routine is the way to go, and experts suggest starting the back-to-school schedule two weeks before they start. Start small, with one thing at a time, and start scaling back screen time and moving up bedtimes and wake-up times by 15 minutes a day.
- Get visual – Use a calendar or chart to show kids what they’ll be doing. Seeing their daily routine in writing can help them understand it and get used to it and a checklist will help them know the expectations.
- Empower your kids – They want autonomy and independence, so let them have it. Figure out what your kids can do on their own before school starts and let them pick out their clothes, get dressed, fill their water bottle and pack their own snack if they can. They’ll be happy and you’ll have less to do, too.
- Limit logistics – Minimize the stress of the start of the new school year by not packing their after-school hours for the first few weeks. Give them some time to adjust and chill in the afternoons — while you enjoy not having to drive all over town — and then bring on the sports, activities and playdates.
- Remember you’ve got this – Transitions are tough for parents, as well as kids, so it’s fine if the first few weeks are an adjustment for all of you. Backpacks may be forgotten, meltdowns may happen, but you’ll get back in the swing of the routine in no time.
Source: Scary Mommy
