With the end of the holiday season, getting children back to their daily routines and preparing them for “back to school” days can be daunting for most parents. After all, no child wants to give up the comfort of those cozy comforters and get ready for school every morning. While we all love the holiday season, these relaxing days make it harder for children to transition back into a structured routine.
So, how do parents help their kids transition back to their school routine? Try some positive reinforcement and encouragement along with the tips mentioned below, and you will be good to go. So, what are these secret tips? Let’s find out.
1. Start Early with Small Changes
This is the most effective step to ease your child back into a routine. Start making gradual adjustments well before their school resumes:
Adjust their sleep schedules:
Sleep is critical for children’s development and emotional regulation and mostly holiday bedtimes can throw off their circadian rhythm. Start moving their bedtime earlier by 10-15 minutes each night, starting at least a week before school begins. Use cues like dimming lights, reading stories, or playing soothing music to create a sleeping mood.
Set consistent wake-up times:
Set the alarm progressively earlier until it matches their school schedule. Encourage morning sunlight exposure to naturally reset their internal clock.
2. Reintroduce Structured Routines
Children thrive on predictable routines, and if your child seems to be struggling to get back into the groove, model their school routine for them.
Morning routine:
Create a step-by-step schedule that your child will follow when going back to school. This includes waking up, brushing their teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and packing their school bags. You can also ask them to take out a book according to their school’s timetable and ask them to go through a few lessons. These practice runs before school can help them establish a flow.
Evening routine:
Start setting a digital curfew by limiting their screen time to at least an hour before bed to promote better sleep. Replace screen time with other activities like solving math worksheets, so they start developing their study routine.
To learn more about The Importance Of Math Practice and How To Do It Right, read this blog by UCMAS.
3. Involve Your Child in the Process
Children who are part of the planning process feel more empowered and motivated to follow through. Involving them in re-establishing routines fosters cooperation and builds life skills like planning and decision-making.
Set goals together:
Sit down with your child and discuss what they want to achieve in the upcoming school term. It could include academic goals or joining a club or sports team.
Make it fun:
Create a colorful planner using stickers or drawings to represent activities. It is easier to follow and enjoyable to make.
4. Make Back-to-School Preparation Enjoyable
Back-to-school stress for parents is greater when sending their kids to school seems like a chore. The key is making the preparations enjoyable and spending quality time with your child.
Shop for school supplies with them:
It can be a fun outing where you can shop for their favorite notebooks, pens, or a new backpack. This can generate excitement about school.
Organize together:
Help them arrange their study area at home and ensure it’s clean and comfortable. Use organizational tools like labeled bins or small calendars to help them stay on track with assignments.
Read these to cultivate Effective Study Habits in Children for a Successful Back-to-school Season and reduce the stress of sending kids back to school.
5. Reinforce Healthy Habits
Healthy habits are a cornerstone of a successful routine, providing kids the physical and mental energy needed to thrive.
Balanced nutrition:
Plan meals with your kid, and let them help you prepare food. Include protein, whole grains, and plenty of veggies and fruits. Encourage them to drink more water instead of sugary drinks.
Physical activity:
Try to inculcate a healthy habit of working out together and make it a family affair. Create an indoor obstacle course for kids using pillows, blankets, chairs, etc, so they can crawl, jump and climb over this path or have an indoor dance party by putting their favorite music on. These activities not only reduce stress but also boost concentration.
6. Be Flexible and Patient
The transition takes time, and it’s important to approach this process with understanding and flexibility. Your child might face challenges as they adjust, and occasional resistance is normal. Maintain a calm and considerate attitude while guiding your child.
Stay consistent:
Don’t expect sudden transformation from the child. It’s very important to not expect things that even you as a kid didn’t do. Always foster healthy and open communication with your child to understand things from their perspective.
Acknowledge small wins:
Appreciate them whenever they stick to their bedtime or complete a task on time. Reward them with healthy treats and positive reinforcement, which builds momentum and keeps kids motivated.
Returning to a regular schedule after New Year can be challenging for both you and your children. But with little planning, encouragement, and structure, your child will be ready to embrace the school routine with renewed enthusiasm and energy.
Unlock Your Child’s Potential with UCMAS After the Holidays
At UCMAS, we understand the challenges parents face when it comes to re-establishing routines and preparing children for academic success. As a global leader in brain development programs, UCMAS equips children with the skills they need to thrive both in school and beyond. Our Abacus Mental Math program is designed to improve concentration, memory, problem-solving, and time management skills. Here are 3 Ways in Which Abacus Learning Transforms Education; read this blog to learn more.
Book a free info session with us today to discover how UCMAS can support your child’s learning journey!