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How to Create a Simple Back-to-School Routine

Children get happy that they will see their friends again, share summer break stories and catch up on the latest adventure. But on the other hand, going back to school means doing homework, getting back to formal studies, no longer sleeping in, and waking up early. Going back to school means getting back into a routine!

How to Create a Simple Back-to-School Routine Parents Guide

If you dread the end of summer, don’t worry, you are not alone. Going back to school after the long summer causes excitement and jitters for students, parents, and teachers.

Children get happy that they will see their friends again, share summer break stories and catch up on the latest adventure. But on the other hand, going back to school means doing homework, getting back to formal studies, no longer sleeping in, and waking up early.

Going back to school means getting back into a routine!

A back-to-school routine can make your family’s mornings and nights less stressful.

Children thrive on routine because it gives them a sense of accomplishment and predictability in their lives. It also makes it simple for parents to meet their kids’ needs, which boosts their confidence. In addition, a back-to-school routine further gives kids a sense of security as they gain familiarity with what is expected of them.

Mother In Kitchen Helping Children With Breakfast Before Going To School

So, how do you create a back-to-school routine?

1. Create a Morning Routine:

A morning routine is a set of daily motions or habits you perform in the same order. The exercise can help set the tone for the rest of the day and allow your family to start the day with intention. 

Tips for creating an effective morning routine:

Set sleep goals:  Ensure that your children get enough sleep, between 8-11 hours, depending on your kids’ age. Stick to a regular night schedule as a way to regulate sleep. Find a relaxing bedtime routine free of TV and other electronics: Reading a book together is a great bedtime success. Create an ideal sleep environment by regulating light and temperature levels.

Prepare the night before:  Prepare for the next day as much as possible before bedtime to reduce morning pressure. For example, you can pack lunches and lay out their clothes before sleeping. You can also fill up the car the night before to avoid possible setbacks in the morning. In addition, incorporating some morning tasks into the evening routines can reduce morning pressure and improve your kids’ independence.

Have some “me-time”:  Wake up at least 15 minutes earlier than your kids and enjoy some time alone. You can use this time for meditation or enjoy a cup of coffee. You can also do something you love, like reading a few pages of your favorite book or engaging in a quick workout.

Set the right mood for everyone:  Find out what your kids love doing in the morning and incorporate it into your morning routine. For example, you can play their favorite tunes, come up with positive vibes or praises, or connect by holding hands or hugs.

2. Establish Zones in the House:

Are you wondering how you can help your kids to be organized and easily retrieve their stuff, especially in the morning? Establishing zones is the way to go! Zones make it easy to find and replace things. It is the best way to arrange items and keep the house neat.

Creating zones doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use boxes, baskets, and some areas within the room as zones. Put a picture label on each designated zone for easy identification. You should ensure that the zones are easily accessible to your kids so they can easily access their items.

Examples of zones that you can create in your house include:

  • Homework station
  • Section to store  school supplies and backpacks
  • An art projects area.
  • A spot for sports equipment.

3. Establish an After-School Routine:

Establishing a simple after-school routine can help you to keep track of o their activities. Failure to have a tack causes chores and homework to go undone, with added pressure to pile up in the morning.

One exciting after-school routine is to create a snack time. Even though your child had lunch in school, they may still come home hungry and require a quick snack before they begin their homework. So ensure that you have some healthy snacks by stocking them regularly. Some best grab-and-go snacks include fruits, yogurt, veggies with hummus, trail mix, ranch dips, cheese sticks, and bars.

4. Engage in a Few Extracurricular Activities:

Come up with varying nonacademic activities to ensure your kids get physically, mentally, and emotionally strong and healthy.   Some of the best after-school activities include the following:

Art: Art is vital to education since it involves the mind, body, and heart. Some enriching art activities include theater, visual arts, and music.

Foreign languages:  There are many benefits of kids learning foreign languages, such as academic achievement, language learning, improved cognitive abilities, and a positive attitude toward people who speak foreign languages.

Martial arts: Martial arts are a necessary form of physical activity that teaches children discipline, honor, and respect. Some of the most beneficial arts include wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

STEM:  Science, technology, engineering, and math, also known as STEM, are significant skills for 21st-century learners. STEM hands-on activities are beneficial after-school activities that improve kids’ performance and build their social skills.

Music: This is a tremendous cross-brain experience you can incorporate into your childhood education. When k-12 students participate in musical activities, they are likelier to stay in school and perform in Math, English, sciences, and second languages.

Sports: This great after-school routine involves your child’s physical body, brain, and social interaction. It helps children to think clearly, and creatively and improves their learning ability.

5. Be Organized:

Organization is one of the most effective ways of reducing daily stress in your family’s life. It becomes easy to get all school necessities in the morning when your kids store them at the right places in the evening. The proper organization makes the morning routine less stressful.

The organization includes going through your kid’s backpacks and helping them to arrange their school folders. You should also check if there are homework assignments that they should do before retiring to bed. Working on projects and keeping everything in order ensures that your kids don’t run around at the last minute. It also makes things less hectic, hence relieving everyone under less pressure.

6. Use a Calendar:

A calendar is vital when formulating a back-to-school routine since it offers a well-organized system for proper time management. You can use a calendar to help you develop and follow a schedule that will translate to more productivity. A calendar also allows you to manage dates and deadlines of different activities such as homework assignments, school events, or doctor appointments.

Use a calendar to keep your child more organized and help them keep everything in a centralized place. It can also act as a vital reference point every day to help you stay in control of everything. You can further use stickers, highlighting, and color coding to keep the calendar more organized and easier to use. You can choose between a digital or paper calendar to see which fits your needs best.

7. Have a Meal Plan:

Preparing meals throughout the week can be less hectic if you plan earlier. Write down somewhere all the meals you plan to make every weekday. You could write on a whiteboard, chalkboard, iPad, or iPhone. Also, make a grocery list of everything you need in meal preparation for the entire week, rather than buying items daily.

Below are various benefits of having a meal plan:

Saves time: Planning meals for an entire week helps you to manage time. With a meal plan, you will not require to make a last-minute rush to the shops or spend too much time deciding what to prepare for the family.

Enhances portion control: By preparing meals early, you can successfully control portion sizes and fight overweight.

It minimizes wastage: A proper meal plan can help to reduce food waste. For example, when you only buy what you need and use ingredients required for a meal, there will be no surplus in the bin.

Minimizes last-minute rush:  Lack of a meal plan can lead to poor food choices. On the other hand, planning helps you to eliminate the dreaded question, “that is for dinner?” Importantly, pre-organized meals can be more nutritious and healthy.

 8. Implement a Sleep Schedule:

One of the most effective ways of having a successful back-to-school routine is by implementing a sleep schedule for your children. It would help if you began the plan a few weeks before school started.   Enforce bedtime and wake time that your kids will follow every day. Creating a sleep schedule helps kids to get back into school rhythm. In addition, adjusting to the school routine will cause your kids to be less cranky and tired.

9. Put Stuff Away Immediately:

Empty your children’s lunch boxes, and remove school notices and homework from their bags immediately they get home from school. This habit will make it impossible to see forgotten homework at the last minute or find rotten leftovers in the morning.

Fill in all the forms that require your attention before retiring to bed and store them in their rightful places for easier access—finally, discard any papers your child does not need to prevent the buildup of paper clutters.

10. Mark all Important Dates:

Knowing all the important dates in your child’s school helps prepare for what they need. Some dates you should mark and include in your list include parents’ evening, curriculum meetings, child’s class assembly, PTFA meetings, and school trips. These dates are available on the school website or in newsletters.

11. Manage Time that your Child Spends on Screen.

Many children are computer and Smartphone heavy users or addicts. So naturally, such children will be eager to switch from school work to gaming or other enjoyable activities after school. But unfortunately, such actions can cause them to spend too much time on screen and to sleep late.

Help your kids to understand the problems associated with excessive use of modern technology and the repercussions of not having enough physical activities. Also, please help them to understand the benefits of having enough sleep at night. You can introduce them to after-school activities, such as jogging and gardening. Such actions will improve their physical and mental health.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How can I ease my child’s back-to-school experience?

You can help your child to overcome negative school experiences through the following steps:

1. Come up with a simple back-to-school routine, like the one mentioned above.

2. Normalize the experience of returning to school by talking about it. Offer necessary support to elevate anxiety and stress levels.

3. Formulate a sense of school belonging by facilitating a positive attitude towards learning.

4. Identify any stress and anxiety in your child before getting them professional help.

5. Provide the kids with transition information and encourage them to ask critical questions.

How can I get my kids to school without yelling?

1. Prepare as much as possible before they go to school.

2. Shower and prepare before your children wake up.

3. Save morning time by avoiding using your smartphone.

4. Ensure your kids are dressed before coming downstairs for breakfast.

5. Make an easy but nutritious breakfast.

6. Congratulate and reward your kids when they do well.

How can I help my children to wake up happy and embrace school?

1. Let in the light into their room.

2. Turn on their favorite music in the morning.

3. Wake your children 10 minutes earlier to avoid over-rushing them.

4. Follow a clear and consistent routine.

At Kids on the Yard, we understand that child support at school or home has more than one way. Our team of experts knows to handle different challenges such as:

  • Changes In Socialization
  • Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
  • Availability Of Information / Ability to satisfy their curiosity instantly, along with helping with schoolwork.
  • Support child Accountability growth.
  • Help the child to Stick To A Routine.

Parting Shot:

Would you like support with your child’s learning schedules this school year? We provide the best learning solutions and services in a safe and educational environment.

We believe that successful Tutors build strong, personal relationships with their students and their families.

This year, spend less time searching for answers and more time with your kids with our classroom experiences tutors and educators.

Please call us at 844-902-4242 Toll-Free or Send an SMS to 844-902-4242 for more information.

You can also visit our website, Kids on the Yard, to learn more about our company!

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