Let’s be honest, summer vacation is truly the most exciting part of every child’s school year. Who doesn’t love having days filled with no obligations? Kids and teens are free from schoolwork. They can wake up as late as they want to. And, normally they could even hang out with their friends on weekdays—less so due to Covid, of course.
Every summer vacation ends though. School is now upon us again and that can mean some power struggles. You can avoid an abrupt ending and a house full of cranky children if you start the back-to-school preparation process before class starts.
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How do we minimize the sting of going back to school on your children—and ourselves?
- Adjust their sleep schedule. Wean your kids into a school-ready sleeping schedule by making them fall asleep an hour earlier each week. Continue cutting back their bedtime until their sleeping patterns match those they’ll maintain throughout the school year.
- Assign lighthearted homework. Maybe have them read a great book or find some fun games like word search or scrabble online. If it’s math you’re worried about try doing a fun budget game. Depending on their age, have them choose something they want to eat or make, have them write them shopping list and then have them manage the money. Make it even more enticing by saying any leftover cash is there’s or they can buy a treat with it.
- Tighten curfews. If you’re like most parents, you likely extend your children’s curfews throughout the summer. Before classes begin, be stricter about the time your children need to be home and which days they can go out with their friends. One way to do this is allow your children to keep their summer curfew active on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday through Thursday, implement a “school-ready” curfew. This will mentally prepare your children for the new set of rules that will be in effect during the school year.
- Make the change exciting. To your children, September is just the beginning of another boring school year. For us though, we see how much our kids change in the summer anyhow they mature. Tell them and show them the advantages of getting older and in seeing friends at school every day. Maybe point out some new clubs or opportunities that will soon be available to them in the new school year. And never forget how easy it is to make back to school shopping fun!
Remember to take your children’s feelings and desires into account when designing your routine for getting ready to return to school. Kids have unique needs, and it’s important to let them know that their opinions are valuable. Be willing to give in a little and you’ll often receive a great deal of cooperation in return.
Related Post: Surviving Back to School Season During a Pandemic
Most children are resistant when you first begin to implement these changes. However, after about a week or so, most children begin to accept the new routines. By implementing these changes, you’ll prepare your children well. but even more than that you will be avoiding the power struggles that can come with back to school. With any luck when school begins, it will be less of a shock to your children and the transition to a new daily routine will be an easier one for all. And that’s a win-win.
DANA BAKER-WILLIAMS
If you’re going to thrive in today’s crazy world, I believe you need to bring your whole self to the table: your personality, your sense of humor, and most importantly, your heart. All of these elements brought me to start Parenting In Real Life, my parent and teen coaching.
I’m a mom of two amazing kids, one of whom has struggled with ADHD, anxiety and depression. Watching this as a parent can be heartbreaking and feels singular. I had nowhere to turn and i was totally overwhelmed. When we finally put the pieces together and got our daughter some help, everything changed for her. But I still didn’t have someone who could teach me how to parent more effectively. It was trial and error on the emotional dysregulation, the panic attacks, and the lack of executive functioning. There was no handbook.
I vowed then that other parents should NOT have to be that scared, overwhelmed, and alone. And kids and teens shouldn’t feel alone, stupid, disconnected or “less than”. Now I am in the position to help parents and teens alike. I help other 2e families find calm in the chaos, connect with their kids, and bring peace and joy back into the family dynamic. I give parents the tools and support they need to communicate and parent more effectively. Simple shifts and techniques will allow you to parent with confidence and handle the challenges with grace and set your kids up for success with life skills, resilience, and self-advocacy.
Bring the joy back in your family, book a call now. https://www.parentinginreallife.org/bookings-checkout/book-a-free-consult/book
