Coming to the end…

It might still officially be summer, but in most parts of the country, kids are getting ready to head back to school. As depressing as that thought is, the reality is that, whether we like it or not, it’s time to get back into the usual routine. We’ve got some tips to help with the transition:

1. Ease into it. Even if your kids have a couple of weeks before school starts, now is the time to start getting them (and you) back into the sleeping and eating schedules you’ll be in when school starts. If they’re used to later bedtimes during the summer, start moving their bedtime routines earlier and earlier by about 15 minutes each day, until they’re going to bed at the time they will be when school starts. If you’ve been making mealtimes more flexible during the hot weather, start getting them back into regular mealtimes, a meal at a time, until they are back on schedule.

2. Calm things down. Don’t plan big trips a few days before school starts. Kids (and grownups!) need time to recover from travel, and scheduling vacations immediately before kids go back to school is a recipe for disaster. Instead, use the couple of weeks before the start of school to relax and make sure you have everything you need for school, including things like sandwich bags, snacks for lunch, and of course school supplies and clothes.

3. Build the hype. To help kids build some excitement for the coming school year, start talking with them about the new teacher, new classes, or new school they’ll be entering in a few days or weeks. Kids often feel unsure about what the new school year will hold, and talking with them about it can help allay some of their fears. It can give them an opportunity to talk about things that might be worrying them about school, and give you a chance to clear up questions and doubts they have. Often, kids (especially younger ones) have fears about the upcoming school year that can be cleared up easily; they might be worried that they won’t be allowed to use the bathroom whenever they need it, or they might worry that none of their friends will be in their new class. For older kids, this is a great opportunity to talk about some of the challenges and stresses they might be facing in the coming year, and discuss resources they have that can help them get through it.

4. Give them a special treat. One way to get kids looking forward to school is by giving them a new privilege to help them celebrate entering a new grade. It doesn’t have to be something big – it can be as minor as letting them pick out their outfit every morning, or setting up a new study area for them with a “grown-up” desk and office supplies. The goal is to help them feel that the new changes they’ll be going through are a good thing, and something to look forward to.

This is an exciting time of year for kids, and for us as well. Enjoy!

Do you have school-age children? How do you handle this time of year? We’d love to hear any tips you have for helping others get through it – share with us in the comments!