Shifting from Summer to School

Transitioning from Summer to School

Although it can be hard to think about the end of summer days and the return to routine, there is value to getting back into a consistent schedule. Steady, well-thought-out routines help our children develop good habits that can last a lifetime. In addition, the consistency of routines can decrease stress, ease anxiety, and reduce irritability (for both children and parents!). 

Ideally, the transition from summer to the school year can happen gradually so your child can gently adjust to the skills and schedules that will allow for a smooth start on the first day. Here are a few things to consider as you begin this shift.

Casual Conversation & Calendars

We’ve found that it helps to begin by casually talking about the start of school. While out shopping, you can notice aloud how stores have back-to-school items and comment about how it’s almost time for the school year to begin. Because young children live in the present, it is important to keep the time frame general.

If you do talk about school with your child, it’s best to try not to build up false expectations about what they will do in school. Modeling curiosity and openness can go a long way. If you drive by a school, for example, you can wonder aloud: “I wonder what children in this school do after they walk in the door.” Or “I’m so curious about what kinds of activities children enjoy doing during their school day.”

Older children who have a solid concept of linear time can benefit from having a family calendar that is visible to everyone. They might want to mark off a countdown to the first day, or help set some benchmarks for getting back into a normal sleep schedule. 

Sleep Routines

One of the hardest parts of coming out of vacation mode can be shifting back into a school sleep schedule. Rather than just expecting that everyone will adjust on the first day, it’s best to gradually transition into the school-year bedtime and wake-up routine. 

If late bedtimes have become the norm, it can be most effective to start the process about 10 to 14 days prior to the first day of school. First determine what time your child will need to wake up in order to have a peaceful, unhurried morning. You can then start waking your child up a little earlier each morning. In addition, you’ll want to have bedtime begin a little earlier each night. Making these changes in 15-minute increments works best. The goal is for your child to begin getting up rested and refreshed at the wake-up time you’ve determined. 

We recommend establishing an age-appropriate bedtime and sleep routine. Having a calm mind at bedtime and developing good sleep habits, has long-term benefits for your child. For more information visit the Sleep Foundation. 

Morning Routines

Having enough time for a calm, consistent morning routine decreases stress and anxiety for everyone. Plus, children really appreciate having some ownership over the process. 

To prepare, you can make sure your child has clothing and shoes that are easy to put on and take off. For younger children, you can have two outfit options available so they can choose what they want to wear. Older children can select their clothes the night before and lay them out for the next morning. 

It can also help to collaborate with your child to create a visual schedule of what needs to happen each morning: getting up and out of bed, getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, preparing lunch and snacks, etc. You can add images to the schedule and even turn it into a checklist. If you laminate the schedule or checklist, children may appreciate using a dry erase marker to check off each item they have completed.

Preparing Snacks & Lunch

Having snacks and lunch prepared ahead of time can ease a great deal of morning stress. Even the youngest children can help get their snack and lunch food ready. Sometimes having everything ready the night before is easiest, so all children need to do is put containers in their lunch bags to be ready to head out the door. That being said, with enough advance preparation and plenty of time built into the morning schedule, preparing lunch and snacks can easily happen in the morning. 

To support children in making their own lunches, we just need to make sure to have some healthy options prepared and accessible. This can mean having a low section of the cupboard or refrigerator designated for child-friendly snacks and lunch options. You can do some minimal food prep–like hard-boiling and peeling eggs, slicing up chicken breast, or chopping vegetables–and then have the items ready in small, easy-to-open containers.

If you pack your own lunch alongside your child, you can also model choosing healthy foods and serving sizes. 

Stay Organized

Your child (and you) benefit from a sense of order and predictability. Thus, we recommend dedicating and preparing a space in your home for all school necessities, such as backpacks, lunch bags, shoes, etc. Ideally, this space for school items is attractive and child-sized. Having low hooks or a small shelf near the door can allow your child to develop a strong sense of capability and independence. 

Even before school begins, you can practice coming home and putting everything where it belongs. Your child can be in charge of hanging their backpack on a low hook and even putting their lunch containers in the sink or dishwasher. 

If the space gets a little disheveled, you can take a few minutes together with your child to tidy up the items and appreciate how much better things feel when everything is in its place. 

The transition from summer to school year can be an opportunity to establish teamwork and collaboration with your child. So that your child can be an active participant in the process and so that you don’t end up taking on all the stress, remember to ease into the new routines, allow time and space to prepare consistent systems, and provide just enough support for your child to experience some independence and success in the process. The result? Healthy habits and a more peaceful practice for everyone. 

Want a quick reference for the transition from school to summer? Download this one-page printable!

Establishing the Flow: Your Guide to a School Year Started Off Right

It’s that time of the year again. Over the course of the summer, and even with the best of intentions, some of our routines tend to dissolve and give way to relaxation and adventures. Which is great!

The school year is creeping closer, however. Now is the perfect time to consider what your family will do to prepare for the transition back.

Unless this is your child’s first year heading to school, you’ve probably been through and considered all this before, but it’s always nice to have a little refresher. Read on for our tips to make the start of the school year as smooth as possible for everyone.

Sleep

Perhaps the most important bit to consider, your child’s sleep schedule is critical to their success. There are three elements to focus on: how much sleep your child needs, when that sleep should take place, and the quality of sleep.

So just how much sleep does your child need? It depends on the individual, but age plays an important role. Here are the AAP's recommendations on how much sleep children should get within each 24 hour period. (Times include naps.)

12 - 16 hours

11 - 14 hours

10 - 13 hours

9 - 12 hours

8 - 10 hours

4 months - 1 year

1 - 2 years

3 - 5 years

6 - 12 years

13 - 18 years

Once you know how much sleep your child should be getting, and what amount works best for them, figuring out bedtime is as simple as counting back, considering factors like when you need to leave in the morning and how long it takes to get ready.

Is their desired bedtime nowhere near their current bedtime? Take the transition slowly. Start by having them go to sleep just 15 minutes earlier, then another 15 minutes earlier every few days until you reach your goal.

As for quality of sleep? That’s all about creating a relaxing environment. A darker, cool room works best, and establishing a regular and soothing bedtime routine will help them drift off to dreamland easier. Keep the routine the same each night, whether that includes a warm bath, reading, or even using a little lavender-scented spray.

Schedule

We touched on this above, but creating a regular schedule is really important. When children know what to expect, they are much better equipped to take on the day. There will certainly be moments and days when routines are interrupted, but if we prioritize them most of the time, children benefit greatly.

Every family is different, but consider what you want your morning to look like. Some questions that will help guide you in creating a schedule:

• What time should you leave the house to arrive comfortably at school/work?

• What tasks could be done ahead of time (perhaps the night before) to alleviate the morning rush?

• What is your child able to do independently, and what will they need help with?

The same basic concept goes for evening routines as well. As we mentioned in the section on sleep, a focus on calming rituals prepares your child’s mind and body for a restful night of sleep. If the steps remain the same night after night, bedtime will only become easier as the weeks pass by.

Emotions

It is totally normal for children (and even adolescents) to experience big emotions as back-to-school approaches. They may feel excited, anxious, apprehensive about being apart from you, as well as a wide range of other thoughts and feelings.

If your child feels distraught at all, it can be really hard for parents to see. For some of us, the natural reaction is to do whatever we can to minimize the concerns and help them move on. The very best thing we can do, however, is to acknowledge their feelings. When you notice behavior that is reflective of emotional tension, ask them how they’re feeling. If they’re very young, help them name their emotions. Acknowledge that these are normal ways to feel.

Validation is key here. Should we ease their fears a bit by talking about what to expect and addressing their concerns? Of course! But those talks may not erase their worries, and that’s okay. Let them know you recognize their emotions and that it’s okay to feel however they feel.

Parents can experience overwhelming emotions at this time, too. You may surprise yourself! If you’ve been able to spend extra time with your child all summer long, the thought of so much time apart can be hard (or not). Perhaps your child is starting in a new class or is beginning their final year and it has you thinking about how quickly they are growing up. Think of it as a great way to model what to do in the face of challenging feelings.

Expectations

Even with careful planning and the best of intentions, nothing ever goes quite as planned, especially when it comes to our children. Maybe the first day of school is creeping closer and you’re still struggling to get the kids into bed before 9:00. Maybe your eight-year-old is super nervous about starting at a new school. Maybe it’s a challenge to balance your own work schedule with morning drop-off.

Whatever you do, expect the unexpected. Know that we are here to support the children and families in our community. The first couple of weeks at school may be bumpy, they may be smooth, or (most likely) they’ll be somewhere in between. We hope you and your child are looking forward to the start of a new year, and we can’t wait to see you all again!