Back to School - Tricky Transitions
Back to school time is an exciting – but stressful time of year! You might be excited but also dreading getting back in that back to school routine. Check out our latest blog post for some tips and tricks to make it a little easier for you and your kiddo!
Whether you’re going to preschool or AK for the first time, or you’re a seasoned parent, getting back into school routines can always be a bit tricky. It’s an exciting but stressful time for you and you kiddo(s)! It always takes a bit of adjustment for everyone to get back into the groove. Here’s six tips for making the transition easier on everyone!
Start early
Give yourself some time to get back into routine, sometimes this means starting bedtime and wake up times for school the week before so it’s not so hard to make that adjustment when the kiddos are also exhausted from having to sit and follow school rules all day. Give yourself time to get those bedtime and morning times routines established.
Establish Routines
Have a set morning and bed time routine. Kids (and most humans) love predictability. Have a routine for bedtime, (so you get good sleep), and mornings so everyone knows the expectations. Have this be set to your child’s skill level. Your kindergartener will need more guidance than your 3rd grader. Consistency is key!
Use visuals!
To help support routines, backpacks and shoes getting to their spots by the door (to avoid that last minute scramble), and remembering what special is the next day – use visuals! A simple clip art picture with a Velcro dot for a lunch box, or a special hook for a backpack, a basket for just that kiddos shoes, helps to keep things in their place and help that routine development. Sometimes a checkoff list or a visual schedule will help kiddos to remember ‘what’s next’ in the morning.
Avoid highly desirable play or screens in the morning
With increasing computer use at school, we know our kiddos are getting plenty of screen time. Avoid the very favorite toys or screens to make that transition out the door that much easier. If a kiddo doesn’t have to leave their favorite thing, they will more than likely have more success getting to the car.
Prep the night ahead
Want your kiddo to be more independent in the morning? Help them be organized, and ready to do that morning routine by themselves. Set clothes out the night before, how they should be put on – not in a folded pile. For some kiddos, laying out clothes face down so that when they’re picked up, they are the right way, or setting out the individual socks (not folded or balled up), so they’re easier to see how they’re put on will help with your kiddos independence.
Give yourself a break
Know that this is hard for most everyone, even if it might not seem like it. Take some deep breaths, do something that fills your cup, and lower your expectations for how things are going to go. Have snacks on the ready for after school, and keep demands low the first week after school. Your kiddos are going to be exhausted. Give yourself a little grace, you’ve got this!