With the dwindling of our summer days, it means school is right around the corner. There are always mixed emotions about school starting again. Starting a new school year can be a time of great excitement…but sometimes with the excitement comes anxiety. If only we could bottle those easy parental feelings summer brings—the joy of devouring ice cream cones together on the porch, or the peacefulness of taking post bedtime walks through the neighborhood—and experience them all year long. Sadly, those relaxing moments seem to grow scarce once school starts again.
This year, maybe the transition for your family can be different. Instead of crouching in a kiddie pool in a state of paralysis, take steps now to make your family’s transition to the school year as smooth as a melting piña colada in the middle of July.
This transition starts with the dreaded schedule switch. Let’s be honest here, switching from summer to school schedules can be harder than climbing Mount Everest, not just for the little ones, but for teenagers and parents too!
When your kids are used to running around outside until dark each night, shifting to the early morning school rush can be a real shock to the system. To ease the transition, about a week 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.
And Mom and Dad: don’t forget to readjust your bedtime schedules too! It’ll make it easier on everyone!
Another idea to prepare your family for back to school is readjusting your eating to healthier choices. If your family is like most, your household inventory of potato chips and cookies skyrockets during the summer. The snack options are much different when the kids are out for the summer! The arrival of school-time is a perfect time to teach your kids that family-focused healthy eating can be fun too. “While kids may be used to having ice cream every night in the summer, start swapping those out some nights for fruit Popsicles, frozen yogurt, or baked fruit sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar,” says Rania Batanyeh, a San Francisco-based nutritionist and wellness coach. “And be prepared with healthy snacks and meals when things get hectic, such as in the morning before school, when kids come home from school, and before dinner.”
Finally, try to seek out one-on-one time with your child every day. Yes, this is daunting, especially when your days consist of carting Kid A to one activity and picking up Kid B from another. But challenge yourself to set aside just 15 minutes per day, per child, to enjoy a quiet activity together. Whether it involves reading a few books to your toddler, taking turns making up a story with your preschooler, or gazing at the stars with your oldest after the others have been put to bed, your children will savor your undivided attention. And both of you will benefit from putting yet another hectic day on hold.
There are just a few short weeks before school gets back into full swing. Teachers will be heading back to work, bulletin boards will be put up, supply lists will be handed out, and before you know it, the bell will be ringing out the first day. Prepare your family early for this exciting, but chaotic time of year.
