INDIANA – I don’t know about you, but to me, the first day of summer break feels like it was just last week. How can it possibly be time to start setting those alarm clocks again?
If your family has fallen out of the school year routine, there is good news: I have four tips to make getting out the door for school a little easier.
First and foremost, do not underestimate the importance of having a healthy sleep routine. Getting your kids (and possibly yourself) back into a nightly schedule should be the top priority. Setting a routine will help sleep come sooner for those who struggle. According to Calm.com, the best practice for a good night’s sleep is putting electronics down at least an hour before bedtime. Screen time before bed has been linked to overstimulation of the brain and can increase anxiety and depression symptoms.
Second, consistency is important. A nighttime routine can look different for every family, but for young children, it should include eating dinner, bathing, brushing teeth, reading, and heading to bed. If your child is a visual learner, post the routine in pictures or words (depending on the child’s age) so they can see where they are in their routine each day.
Third, know the plan each week. Spend part of your Saturday or Sunday looking at the week ahead and discussing as a family what everyone’s needs are and what may need adjustment. My family loves to utilize a large dry-erase calendar that hosts everything, from who is eating school lunch on which days to which practices each child needs to attend. We make sure to add extra events that may have come up and any appointments. This method works well for our family because it allows us to set up a monthly/weekly schedule and plan for anything extra that might pop up.
Finally, do as much as you can today to prepare for tomorrow. Before going to bed each night, make sure lunches are packed, backpacks have all the necessary supplies, and outfits for the next day are ready to go. This takes the panic and rush out of the morning routine. If your kids are old enough, have them learn responsibility by participating in planning activities. They can pack their lunches under your guidance, lay out their outfit based on what activities they have planned for the next day, and ensure all their needed supplies have returned to their backpack for tomorrow.
The first day of the new school year can sneak up on us. That doesn’t mean it has to be hurried and stressful for your family. Setting a schedule and planning can help guarantee your back-to-school season goes smoothly.
Christine Weinzapfel-Hayden, MSW, LCSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at Corpus Christi Catholic School and St. Philip Catholic School in Vanderburgh County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 126 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 52,500 youth and families yearly are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.
