Going back to school is the most hectic event in not only our children’s lives, but ours as well. From waking up at 7 AM to putting them to bed at 9 PM, those hours in between are make it or break it when it comes to having a good day. As you already know, at Tender Years, our main goal is to keep not only your children, but you happy as well. We do what we can to make that back to school transition as smooth as possible, especially when it comes to fixing that sleep schedule. We’ve put together some of our favorite ways to make your back to school journey, and your child’s, fun and easy!
Address the Positive and Negative
Let’s face it…going back to school is stressful no matter what age. When it comes to what to wear on your first day, how to make friends, and the struggle of new classes…an anxiety attack is inevitable. Your duty as a parent is to address the worries that your child has about going back to school and showing them that it really won’t be that bad. Tell your child about the new things to look forward to and all the cool school supplies they just got! Take some time leading up to starting back to focus on something positive each day, but also discuss things that might cause anxiety. Being proactive will pay off in the long run.
Keep your Cool
It’s natural to be nervous about our children starting their first day of school ever or even going back to school, but once they see you worrying, chances are they’re right behind you. Keeping your worries under control is a must when setting a positive example for your kids about school. Remember to schedule some time in to take care of yourself as well.
Schedules Are Key
During summer, we tend to forget about things like normal bedtime, and waking up with an agenda. After summer is over, we tend to panic because all of a sudden we all have to hop back on schedule. Easing ourselves and our children back into a normal school schedule is the first thing that should be on your…schedule! Take some time leading up to start inching bedtimes back. One to two weeks before the first day of school, start their bedtime routine about 10 minutes earlier each night and wake them up 10 minutes earlier each morning, every day, until they’re back on track. Plus, don’t forget to readjust your own bedtime schedules too!
Nature Is In Your Backyard
Just because school is starting doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Don’t forget that just because the kids are back in school that you can’t camp out in your own backyard during the weekend or take hikes. Nature goes wherever you go, so take advantage of it! Put together some weekend plans that kids can look forward to during the school week.
Stay Connected To Your Child
We understand that a school time schedule makes it hard to have quality time. Everyone has a different schedule and is going a mile a minute. But, it’s important to maintain a bond with your child, especially during the school year. Spend the day together during the weekends and catch up on how school is going and ask them about all of their new experiences. A good goal is to set aside 15 minutes a day per child to really check in with them and have some QT, quality and quiet time. This could be something like reading an extra book, going outside to look at the stars, etc.
School is important, but so is family and fun. It’s good to maintain a healthy schedule that includes school during the weekday and family fun during breaks and weekends. Have a happy school year!
