Transitioning from Summer Back to School

Start the transition early:

As the end of summer approaches, gradually start implementing school routines and schedules at home. This could include adjusting wake-up and bedtime times to align with the school schedule, reintroducing regular meal times, and establishing consistent homework and study routines.

Re-establish routines:

Outline a daily schedule that includes specific routines for mornings, afternoons, and evenings. This helps children transition smoothly by providing structure and decreasing the time they spend waiting or being uncertain about what they should do next.

Schedule activities:

Help your child get back into academic mode by scheduling activities that can gently stimulate their brain, such as reading, doing puzzles, or playing educational games. Our Back-to-School primer is a particularly helpful resource here!

Encourage organization:

Encourage your child to start organizing their backpack, school supplies, and study area ahead of time. Store all the necessary school materials in specific places to make the mornings less stressful and provide children with a sense of responsibility and readiness.

Have a discussion:

Take some time to talk to your child about going back to school. Ask them if they have any worries, concerns, or excitement about the upcoming year. Listen and address their concerns, offering support and reassurance whenever necessary.

Visit the school together:

Prior to the start of classes, consider taking your child to visit the school. This can help them understand the setup, locate classrooms, find lockers, and address any potential anxieties about unfamiliar environments.

Establish sleep routines:

Make sure your child has a consistent sleep routine and ask them to establish a specific “no screen time” policy before bedtime. Melatonin is an incredibly useful sleepy hormone for youngsters or less preparing teenagers to get to relax in their downtime.

Inventory school supplies:

Take the time to check your child’s current school supplies, textbook/exercise book (if relevant), and ensure they have all the necessary stationery, textbooks, and technology they require for the new year.

Prepare for daily tasks:

Help your child accumulate or organize the things they’ll carry daily consistently for an 8- to 9-hour school day. This commonly caters to lunch boxes meals, completed homework/projects, and meeting ergonomic blueprints to minimize the possibilities of posture-related weaknesses in order to have a productive school day.