10 Tips to Ease Into the New School Year

While we soak up the last bits of summer, we can also take steps to help us all ease into the school year.  The kids are used to a much more relaxed routine and it is easier to take steps now to get the school year routines going than to jump back in all at one time. 

1.  Bedtime Prep  

Have your kids been staying up till 10 every night?  If so, try moving bedtime up by 15 minutes each day or every couple of days, till it is where you need it to be for the school year.

2.  School Lunch Containers

Prep the school lunch containers now so you’re now stressing looking for lids for bottoms once its time to make lunches again.

3.  Meal Times

Get back in a routine for meals and snacks so that once the kids are back in school, their stomachs are already used to the timing for meal during the school year.

4.  Paper Plan

As much as a lot of paperwork has gone to technology, the start of the year always drowns parents in paperwork.  Have a plan of where to put everything and how you’re going to organize it all so it doesn’t feel as chaotic.

5.  Bedtime Routines

Start getting back into your bath, toothbrushing and book routines now so when your child is wiped from the start of the school year, they know what to expect at night.

6.  Homework Plan

What works best for your family?  Will homework be done right after school or is it best for your child to have a break first?  Come up with a schedule that will work best for your family.

7.  Homework Supply Caddy

For the younger kids, it can be helpful to have one container that holds crayons, pencils, scissors and glue sticks so they will be ready to go.

8.  Back to School Shopping

Choosing the picture on a folder or notebook or a favorite pencil case can make the first day of school with new supplies much more fun!  Let your child find ways to personalize their supplies.

9.  Be Mindful

All the excitement of going back to school can be an anxious time for many children.  Talk with your child about strategies to stay calm when they are feeling this way. Open those lines of communication, acknowledge those big feelings and practice calming strategies together.

10.  Activity Plan

The new school year means a lot less physical activity compared to summertime for most children.  Come up with ways to build movement into the day! It can be structured after school activities, play dates at the park or an after dinner walk around the block. 

The new school year brings a lot of changes for both children AND adults. Most importantly, lets all support each other to begin another successful exciting year together!