A school routine is so important for children when they’re up at at ’em every day to learn. It’s hard for a child to fully absorb anything if they’re tired, and we all know how much children need structure. Chances are, structure has been in short supply over the summer, and that’s okay. It’s the summer, after all. However, as school approaches, it’s best to start getting the kids – even the older ones – back into a school routine, so they’re prepared when school starts.
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School Routine – Ways to Get Back Into the Groove
As school approaches, getting back into the groove becomes more and more important, especially if you don’t want to deal with whining kids who don’t want to go to bed at school bed time and who don’t want to get up in the morning when they should. Getting back into the swing of school things a couple of weeks before hand can save you a huge headache when school actually begins.
Back to School Bedtime
A couple of weeks before school starts, get your children back to school ready by getting them back on their sleep schedule. Whatever that time may be, make sure your kids are in bed with their lights – AND devices – off and ready to sleep. This will get their bodies back into the school routine sleep schedule they need to be on.
Device Cutoff
And speaking of bedtime and devices, begin instituting your school year device cutoff time as well. The kids will grumble a little, but not nearly as much as they will if you take away their tablet or phone on the designated time the first day of school. Give them a week or two to adjust to the new old cutoff time.
Regular Chore System
Back to school means a back to school routine in a lot of different departments, including chores. During the summer, kids are free to do their chores pretty much anytime they feel like it. With school looming, that’s about to change. They’ll have the afternoons and the mornings – if they’re up early enough – to do their chores, and that’s it. Get them back into the back to school swing of things by having them begin doing their chores at their normal school day times a week or two before school starts.
Tighten Up Dinnertime
During the summer, a lot of families get loose with the family schedule. Once back to school time rolls around, that schedule needs to be on point. A couple of weeks before school, start having dinner at the regular time, and pull back a little on the late movie nights and the like so that you can implement the bed time, device cutoff, and chore time school routine tips I just listed.
Supplies
It may seem like a no-brainer to put back to school supplies on a back to school routine list, but you wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to rush to my local store last minute. Actually, if you’re a parent, you would TOTALLY believe that. Make sure your kids give you a list of what supplies they need for the year, and if you have access to a teacher’s email, shoot them an email asking. In my experience, you can never fully rely on your kids for this type of thing. 😉
School Routine is Better When You Get it Started Earlier
Back to school means a good back to school routine, and that always works out better when you start it a little before school begins. Getting back into a regular school routine a couple of weeks before school begins is the best way to allow your kids to get back into the groove of things with a minimum of wailing and gnashing of teeth.