By Christine Weinzapfel-Hayden, MSW, LCSW – August 7, 2024 –

I don’t know about you, but to me it feels like the first day of summer break 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 even yourself) back into a nightly schedule should be the top priority. Setting a routine will help sleep come faster to 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 be something along the lines of 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 age of your child) so they have a visual understanding of 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 not only allows us to set up a monthly/weekly schedule but also allows us to 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 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 taking part in planning activities. They can pack their lunches under your guidance, lay out their outfit based on what activities they have planned the next day, and make sure all of their needed supplies have made it back into 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. By setting a schedule and planning ahead, you can help guarantee your back-to-school season goes smoothly.