The first few weeks of school are full of new schedules, new people, and lots of adjustments. We don’t need to tell you that transitioning from summer to a school-year schedule doesn’t just affect the kids! Just when you’ve adjusted to the logistical choreography of summer activities, it’s time to upend everything for the new school year.
During this time, it’s easy to set lofty organizational goals that fall to the wayside by week two (we see you with those early wake-up times and Instagram worthy school lunches!). But now that you’re settling into the school year, it’s the perfect time to make some realistic changes to set your family up for success all year long. Check out these tips to set you up for smooth sailing the rest of the year.
Remind kids of routines
Help your children ease into new school routines by adjusting to earlier bedtimes and earlier wake up times. Create a bedtime routine that is consistent to help your child settle down and fall asleep. Keeping your home as quiet and calm as possible when younger children are trying to fall asleep can help with this!
Set clothes aside the night before
Mornings are stressful enough, so eliminate scrambling last minute by laying out your children’s clothes the night before, including their favorite shoes!
Ask open ended questions
As kids adjust to new schedules and responsibilities, it can be stressful for them! Be sure to encourage your children to ask open ended questions and share stress the importance of having honest, factual, and open conversations together. And ask them open ended questions, too; you’ll discover their new world with them!
Set up a family calendar
This may seem obvious, but providing your family and caregiver(s) with visibility into the daily schedule as early as possible will help alleviate any conflicts. Some families keep track of things digitally through apps like Google calendar, while others prefer a written schedule posted in a main area of the family’s home. For children, a calendar can help them visualize each month into specific subjects and activities. Remember to monitor emails from your school closely to stay up to date on everything!
Figure out childcare logistics
Beyond just sharing a calendar, discussing what a typical day looks like during the school year can help illustrate any possible pain points or conflicts. By walking your family and/or caregiver(s) through each part of the day early in the school year, you have the opportunity to recognize any holes or logistical challenges. Find ways to make even the craziest of schedules work for everyone!
And as you continue to transition into the school year and discover times when you need extra help, time for self care, or a night out with friends or with your partner, book a care session with Otter!
