Go back to school it's a fun time with new routines, fresh new school supplies, learning new subjects and trying new activities. It's hard to believe when we're in the middle of summer that the start of a new year is just around the corner. Carefree days and late nights are part of it the appeal of summer. But very soon, it will be over and a new school year will begin again.
It can be very difficult to go from freedom and flexibility to a schedule overnight. You don't want to say, “Go to bed early tonight, school starts tomorrow!” I've always homeschooled my six children, but that doesn't mean we don't have one home school routine. In fact, it helps us stay on track and accomplish more with less stress when we have a daily routine to keep things organized.
With my kids, I've always found it works best to start transitioning into a new routine sooner so they have time to get used to it. And believe it or not, now is the time to start working on your school routine. The start of a new school year will be here before we know it!
So if you are homeschooling your children or sending them back to school, these tips will help your family transition from summer back to school.
How to get through school without problems
The transition from unplanned summer days to the more planned school year can be difficult for anyone, especially children. That's why I like to start easing my family into a routine around the end of July. This gives us a few weeks to prepare and get back into the routine. But if you can't start at the end of July, don't worry! Being organized with a routine helps at any time of the year.
These tips are what work well in my house as we transition. There are a lot of routines to create, but kids actually need (and want) structure so they know what to expect.
Don't forget to include the kids while planning your daily routines! My kids have been known for family gatherings and working out daily routines, among other things. All my children know how to cook so they contribute to family meals. As parents, we are ultimately responsible for our home atmosphere. But I've found that kids also have good ideas to contribute to our schedule.
Create a morning routine
After a summer of lazy mornings, a school morning routine can seem daunting. But if you have one outlined for school time, you'll be able to make a much smoother transition. It will help make your mornings a little less stress-free (of course they will never be completely stress-free!).
Start by figuring out how many hours you need to get everyone to school or to start their day. Then work backwards to decide what time they should wake up. Children in middle and high school may sleep later if their school starts later. But younger children usually need to get up and go earlier.
For an easy school morning routine for younger kids, create a printable checklist of all the things they need to do. Include things like brushing your teeth, washing your hair, eating breakfast, getting dressed, and helping make lunch.
And don't forget about yours morning routine! I highly suggest getting up 30-45 minutes before your kids do so you have some time to yourself to ease into your day or catch up on a few things. The older kids and I get up at sunrise to take in the morning sun and set our circular rhythms for the day. I never thought I could wake up so early, but I love quiet mornings!
If your family slept in during the summer, start the transition to an earlier wake-up time a few weeks before school starts. Wake up 15 minutes earlier every few days until you reach your target time. This also works well for regulating bedtime (see nighttime routine).
Set a routine after school
After school can be a great time to reconnect with your kids and hear all about their school day. But it's helpful to have an after-school routine to keep things organized, especially if your kids are involved in extracurricular activities and free time is tight.
At the end of the school day, offer a healthy snack with some time to talk about their day and catch up in a stress-free way. You can also help teach them responsibility by having them unpack their backpacks or lunchboxes and clean up their workspace (if they are homeschooled).
If your children have homework, after school is a good time to schedule homework time. Another thing I like to incorporate into our after school schedule is unstructured free time or game time (outside is great if they can!). If your children are a little older, you can help them learn time management. Give them some guidance on what they need to accomplish before their extracurricular activities and let them decide what they do and when.
Build a bedtime routine
or night routine it is almost as important as a morning routine for young children. This is a great time to get a jump start on everything you'll need for the next day. Prepare any meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Let them choose their clothes. If they participate in after school activities or sports, make sure all their clothing and equipment is together. Have them put their shoes and backpacks by the front door so they know where everything is when it's time to go.
As part of the nighttime routine, you'll also want to create screen time rules to help them develop a healthy relationship with technology (if they are watching screens). Shower time it's a great piece of self-care to incorporate into your sleep routine. Storytime is a perfect way to wind down at night. Readers can spend time reading to a family member to practice.
Are your kids staying up later this summer? Mine do often, so when it's time to get back into the habit of going to bed earlier, I start a few weeks earlier. Every few days, I'll put them to bed 15 minutes earlier. By the time the new school year starts, they will be used to going to bed at their normal time.
Plan your meals
Time is a little harder during the school year, especially if your kids are involved in extracurricular activities. With several kids in sports, my afternoons are often spent driving to various track meets! I like to plan ahead for our meals to make sure everyone is eating healthy and we're not scrambling at the last minute. I also supply my kitchen with real food because cooking and eating at home is a priority for us.
Family meals they are very important, but it can be difficult to have them every night. I like to make sure we all eat breakfast together (as well as dinner). I offer several breakfast options for the kids so they have a chance to choose. And there always is protein at every meal as it is very important to maintain energy levels. If you have older children, work together plan lunches that they will eat (no processed foods). Even if you're homeschooling, it's good to have lunches planned (even though you won't have to pack them).
The I plan my meals for a few weeks or even a month at a time. I'll roll around my recipes and add new ones. I also use the weekends for it group chef, so there are always healthy choices in the fridge. It helps with packing lunches and if we're not all home together, my kids have something to eat.
The kids and I prepare meals for the next day as part of our nightly routine. It's a great time to use my kids their cooking skills and we can spend time together.
Build immunity before you get sick
Because back to school means more germs, now is the time to boost your whole family's immunity. This article it goes deep into what I do. I like to focus on making sure we have a whole food, nutrient rich diet (see meal planning), taking probiotics and taking supplements.
Probiotics are very important maximize our gut health and increase immunity. We take spore-based ones because they survive the digester (unlike those that need to be kept in the refrigerator). I also offer fermented foods AND drinks regularly. They are easy for him do it at home too!
When school starts, kids are more inside and entering less vitamin D. I like to check my children's vitamin D levels and supplement if needed. I also make sure I have vitamin C on hand for the occasional ailment. We do Epsom salt bathrooms and magnesium spray OR foot lotion (this is great to incorporate into your nightly routine).
Get all the supplies you need
Whether your children are in school or you home schooling, you want to make sure they have all the materials they need to be successful. I like to shop for supplies at the end of July when most stores have them on sale. It also helps because things haven't sold yet.
Check with your children's school to see what supplies they need. Don't forget things at home to help them with their homework. Set up a homework station so they have somewhere to complete their work with all their supplies.
If you are homeschooling, raise their class. Determine what homeschool resources you should based on your children's ages, lessons and curriculum. We have a school room in our house, but if you can't dedicate an entire room, set up a school space in a quiet part of your house.
And don't forget the new clothes! Chances are your kids will grow up over the summer (why do they grow so fast?) and need new clothes. I like to shop durable clothing when I can. I also shop at thrift stores and online at ThredUp to save money and help the environment. We use a capsule wardrobe, which makes it easy to minimize our laundry (and laundry). It also reduces the tedium of deciding what to wear, especially for my younger children.
Final thoughts on our back-to-school routine
Preparing early for the back-to-school transition will ensure your family has a better time with the change in routines. Start planning early and before you know it, you'll be taking your first day of school picture and starting the new year with less stress and more peace of mind.
What are your favorite ways to go back to school? How do you plan a new school year?
