Children’s routines are very relaxed in the summer – bedtime is later, snacks are around the clock, more time is spent watching TV and playing with toys. With the back-to-school season here it can be very difficult to get them back into the school year routine.
- Bear in mind that you must slowly re-introduce their regular schedules a few weeks before school actually begins so that everyone is used to the change (parents included). Here are a few tips to get your children back into the swing of things:
- Slowly move bedtime back to an earlier time. Children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night, depending on their age.
- It’s very easy to slip into irregular meal times during the summer, so as September gets closer start making meals more regular and begin to align meal time with the school year schedule.
- Start putting limits to the amount of time your children spend watching TV and playing games. They’ll need to refocus on school work.
- Help them prepare for school the night before. Assist in selecting clothes to wear for school and making sure they have all of their school supplies in their backpack. After a while, they will be able to do this without your assistance.
- Have a daily schedule posted in an area your child will see each day, like the refrigerator.
Just like we practice at The Goddard School, regular schedules create a day with structure. The repetition of routines encourages your child’s memory development, and the consistency helps him or her adjust to a regular schedule.
Tags: Back to School Routine, Summer
