Summer holidays are the best time for kids. Long days, relaxed bedtimes, no maths homework – we hear you, it’s marvellous (and that’s not just them celebrating the lack of algebra). But whoosh – summer’s over and the school bell’s about to ring, meaning it’s time to get back into a routine.
It’s way easier to transition smoothly from vacation to term time if you’re in a set pattern, and, as we all know, routines take time to bed in.
So instead of leaving it all until the last minute this year, try to get into good habits early on, to make life as tear-free as possible for everyone.
Ready to breeze into the new term like a pro? Here are our top tips for getting back into the school rhythm.
1 Change bedtimes gradually
Chances are bedtimes have been long forgotten over the summer holidays. Reduce the shock-factor of getting into bed by 7pm or 8pm by starting two weeks out, and getting them into bed ten minutes earlier each night. Most kids need between nine and ten hours sleep to wake up at their best in the morning, with eight generally the absolute minimum. And, after all, they want to start the year at their best, don’t they?
2 Get an evening routine in place
Start making dinner times earlier, making sure they’ve had plenty of time to digest their food before heading off to bed. Use your evenings to make your mornings easier – get them to organise the clothes they need for the week ahead, and stack them as they’ll use them. Get school bags packed and stowed by the door, so everything is ready for the next morning. Once they’re in bed, have some one-to-one time and talk to them about their day ahead.
3 Create a morning routine
The first few days (or weeks) are going to be a period of adjustment, so aim to get everyone up earlier than they need to. They’ll need plenty of time to get dressed, eat breakfast and round up stray pencil cases – and potentially have a meltdown in the doorway on the way to the car. And don’t skip breakfast, even if they’re adamant they’re not hungry, or have suddenly developed an aversion to anything other than chicken nuggets.
4 Get on top of bathtime
So, over summer, they’ve probably got a little messy. It’s time to reel them in and get them in the shower / bath at the same time every day. It’s a new school term, so why not get them to choose a new towel and new shower or bath gel, now that they’re so grown up? They’ll be responsible for making sure their towel is hung up to dry every evening, and that their own personal washing kit is added to the shopping list when it runs out.
5 Bring the kids into it
It’s their routine – get them shaping it, drawing out schedules and feeling involved in the process. The more they feel like they’ve designed it (within reason), the less they’ll resist, and the less time you’ll have to allocate in your day for gentle coaxing…
Dos and don’ts
DO…
- Reconnect with parents and peers. Call other parents with kids in the same year and reconnect ahead of meeting at the school gates. Even better, arrange a playdate so they can swap summer stories and talk about what they’re looking forward to when they go back.
- Get them involved. Don’t be the mum or dad who does everything. Get your child to make a list of what they think they need for the new school year, from pens, pencils and a uniform to packed lunch favourites and school bag essentials. They need to learn to take ownership of their belongings and plan ahead. Ease the transition from holidays to homework. Set up a dedicated area for doing homework and give your child ownership of the space.
- It takes a while to re-establish school week routines, so make an extra effort to remind them of homework.
DON’T…
- Dismiss feelings of anxiety. Take some time to sit down with your child and talk about their new class or school. This is both an exciting and scary time for kids. Listen to them to so you can quash any fears or ramp up the excitement.
- Set sky-high expectations. Talk to them about what they want to learn, do and experience this school year. Refrain from setting any goals until they’ve settled back in. Take it slow.
- Become the “fixer”. Get your child used to getting up and out of bed on their own, putting breakfast dishes in the sink or dishwasher themselves and packing their bag or filling their own water bottle.
- Go crazy with school supplies. It’s super tempting to spend lots on shiny school supplies (who doesn’t love a new pencil case?). Check what’s lurking in the drawers at home before splashing out.
