As the days grow shorter, kids must prepare themselves to go back to school once again. Much to the chagrin of children everywhere, summer comes and goes in the blink of an eye, leaving a blaring alarm clock and algebra textbook in its wake.
But going back to school is not a tragedy, despite what the average third grader may tell you. There are several ways to help children tackle this transition, including the following:
Reset Bedtime
While every house has its own rules, many parents allow their children to stay up much later during summer, particularly when they have nowhere they need to be in the morning (or they’re older). If this applies to you, consider easing your child back into their regular bedtime a week or two before school starts. This helps them fall asleep earlier and, most importantly, get up before noon.
Organize the Family Calendar
For most families, back to school means back to jam-packed activities. Between band practice and gymnastic meets, it’s easy to lose track of who needs to be where and when. Keeping your family calendar updated probably won't make your life less hectic, but it will give you a chance to control the chaos. It will also decrease the odds of dropping your kiddo off for their guitar lesson when they’re supposed to be at a swim meet.
Give Your Kids Something to Look Forward To
For many kids, the end of summer feels like the end of the world. After all, they’re being asked to abandon Fortnite for fractions. But resist the urge to celebrate your newfound freedom in front of them and, instead, plan a future outing that’s not too far away. You might consider planning a trip for fall break, picking a random weekend to head to the mountains, or buying tickets to an upcoming festival.
Get School Supplies Ahead of Time
Most of us have waited until the last minute to buy school supplies only to find that certain aisles of our favorite store transform into ghost towns come the second week of August. While we all want to procrastinate on buying a protractor and everything else, staying on the ball helps things stay as stress-free as possible. Don’t forget, with so many delivery services, you can now do your back-to-school shopping without going back to a department store.
Do a Dry Run
If your child is a seasoned student, doing a dry run might seem a bit like overkill (or embarrassing, if they’re a teenager). But for young children, especially those just starting school, a dry run can help ease nerves by showing them what to expect. Making the unknown known can make a world of difference.
Heading back to school is an inevitability of childhood and one that doesn’t seem to get easier for kids, no matter how old they get. These tips might not leave your child thrilled by the idea of history and biology, but they can help. If all else fails, at least next summer is only nine months away.
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