School’s back in session! Help your child get back into the swing of things, anxiety-free.

Summer is officially over, and it’s time to transition your child to go back to school. This means getting them prepared for extra-curricular activities, long nights of homework, and of course a scheduled bedtime. No matter your child’s age, changes in routine are always an adjustment. It can be difficult for your child to have to give up long summer nights with friends in exchange for weeknights doing homework. Going from summer to a structured school schedule can be stressful, but a routine can help. Here’s how to help your child get back into the swing of things this upcoming school year. 

Get Started Early

You might get some pushback from this, but the best way to transition into a back-to-school routine involves getting started early. The more time you give yourself to do it, the better. Like most changes do not happen overnight, transitioning your child to a new sleep schedule also will not happen overnight. As much as it hurts, tweaking your child’s sleep schedule a few weeks to a month before school starts is an effective way to help your child with the transition back into the school year. 

Limit Screen Time

Trying to pry a phone or tablet away from your child or teen’s hand might feel like a death sentence. However, it’s important to minimize screen time around bedtime. Instead of taking your child’s screens away, consider replacing them with other objects like a book, sketchbook, or other device-free activity. According to a study in 2020, using a cell phone for 30 minutes or more after the lights are off is associated with poor sleep quality. And we all know that the better our kids sleep, the less grumpy they are in the mornings. 

Introduce Nightly Prep

We all know those frantic moments when our children spring important or urgent tasks on us at the last minute–it’s harrowing and extremely stressful! A little preparation the night before can make a huge difference for your child and yourself the next morning. Getting your child in the habit of prepping their school supplies the night before can be a huge help. Start with small things like laying out clothes to wear, and then move on to bigger tasks like making lunch. Remember, habits can be formed in as little as 18 days with repetition and consistency. 

Practice Makes Perfect 

Rome wasn’t built in a day, which means that your child’s habits won’t change overnight. Consistency and repetition is key to help your child form the necessary habits to tackle this upcoming school year. If you really want to help your child establish a good back-to-school routine, consider doing trial runs to get ready in the mornings. Determine how long the commute to school takes, and then have your children start getting ready by that time. You don’t want to find out last minute that your child takes a longer time than anticipated to get ready for school. Since you’re doing trial runs, you can tweak the schedule accordingly to best fit your family’s needs. 

Get Rid of Back-to-School Anxiety!

While the long summer days are going to start coming to an end, the start of a school year isn’t the end of the world! Help your child adjust to the new routine by adding incentives. During the first week of school, take your child out for their favorite ice cream, or let them stay up during the weekend watching cartoons. Also, reminding your child about the new friends they’ll make is a great way to help them get excited for the school year. 

It’s important to take time to help ease your child back into the new school year and nip anxieties in the bud. With a back-to-school routine, your child will be back in the groove in no time.