Back to School Routine

“Not only are bloggers suckers for the remarkable, so are the It’s It's It's August!! Which means a lot of people are getting ready for back to school routines and activities. They say all good things must come to an end, and as summer winds down, I’m afraid they’re right. As we start to say goodbye to cookouts, campfires, and warm summer nights, it is time to start thinking about gearing back up for school and our usual routines...

… and perhaps a bit of down time for mom 😬 #amiright

I know, what a buzzkill. Luckily I will be sharing some tips and tricks to help us all out as we prepare to head Back to School!

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Whether your kids are school aged or not, I know you will find this information valuable for you!

All month long, I’m going to be sharing lots of tips to stay healthy as we head into the Fall/Winter months, DIY Fun projects and snacks for your toddlers and kids to do and other wellness support for you and your babies!

Are you excited to get the kids back in school? Do you have a first timer? Do you homeschool? 

This year is the first year of preschool for my daughter. My son will continue his daycare and thankfully my daughter’s preschool is in the same daycare so it won’t be a big shift for us, but we still want to prepare for all the Back To School needs. 

First, I want to start this week’s blog with the importance of getting into a healthy routine! Whether you are a new mom with an infant, or seasoned mom and kids are going back to school. Routines are important! Everything is changing for you AND your kids!

Routines help children feel safe, develop life skills and build healthy habits. Routines help parents feel organized, reduce stress and find time for enjoyable activities. Good routines are well planned, regular and predictable.

Let me give you an example: When your kids are young, you pretty much know exactly when they are waking up. It is like clockwork. My kids internal alarm clock is 7:30am every morning give or take 15 minutes. Doesn’t even matter what time they went to bed the night before. 

It is regular. It is predictable. It reduces my stress because I know how to plan activities. And I definitely feel organized. 

All families need some type of routine to establish normalcy, a way to get things done and a sense of security. 

Children often fear the unknown – whether it’s the broccoli on their plate – or a big life change like moving to a different house or gaining a new sibling. 

While change is a learning opportunity, it can also be stressful for children. A normal routine brings comfort and consistency to a child’s life.

Daily routines might include:

• The time to get ready in the morning

• Bath times, mealtimes, nap-times and bedtimes

• Housework, cooking and cleaning schedules

• Play time, family time and outdoor play

When you include meaningful and important elements into your family life, you’re letting your child know what’s important. 

While daily routines look different across neighborhoods, USA and the entire globe, the most important aspect is creating a routine that works for you and your family. 

I believe that school or no school, whatever stage of life you or your children are in, that we should all have an established routine! And just understand that as your children get older and start school and/or activities change, your daily routing may change a little bit as well. 

Play time will look a little bit different with an infant to a child and to a teenager. Understand the basic routines I mentioned above and adapt every year. 

When the school year starts, update your routine based on what activities your kids are going to be in or starting a new school or if now there is a new sibling or child in the family. 

Practice patience. 

Setting a schedule may be hard for your child at first, but they will become accustomed to it. 

Try not to become impatient or frustrated if the routine takes time to become “regular” for your child.

Why are routines important?

1. Helps your child get on a schedule

2. Bonds the family together: Establishes expectation (for everyone – parents and kids). 

3. Creates a calmer household (everyone understands what is going on and the tasks involved. There are no surprises)

4. Gives your child confidence and independence - With a routine, a child will learn over time when it’s time to brush their teeth or put on their pajamas. They will take pride in knowing what they are supposed to do – and doing it by themselves. Rather than always being told what needs to happen, your child will feel confident to go ahead and be in charge of themselves. When children feel empowered and independent, they are less likely to rebel or retaliate. 

5. Establishes healthy, constructive habits - From brushing teeth regularly to completing homework every afternoon, routines help establish constructive habits. Children who practice these skills will be able to better manage their time. As they age, they’ll have more self-discipline in terms of healthy grooming and eating habits, along with studying and cleaning their rooms.

6. Helps you (the parent) remember important things - Whether it’s ensuring your child takes their medicine every day or remembering to pay the bills every month, a routine helps you stay on track. In the midst of busy family life, you’ll be able to keep track of the important details – allowing for a more stress free household and quality time together as a family. 

7. Offers your child an opportunity to get excited about what’s ahead - If your child knows what’s on the schedule, they anticipate and look forward to future events – such as going to the park on Friday afternoons or spending time with Dad on Sunday mornings. When these activities are established, your child feels like a loved part of the family and the world. 

8. Provides opportunity for special “daily rituals”. - When you build something into your day, like snuggling and reading to your child before bed, you instill special moments or “daily rituals.” These dedicated times create increased bonding and connection with your child every day. Rather than just moving from one activity to the next, you have quality, relaxing time built into each day. 

9. Offers stability during times of change or stress. - Changes and stresses impact a child’s life and sense of security, such as a divorce, change in school system or addition of a new sibling. When the family has an established a routine, normalcy is present in the child’s life, no matter what is going on. A child finds calmness, stability and love through elements of routine, such as family dinners or regular Thursday trips to the playground. 

So, what are the best routines to start with a child going Back To School?

A good sleep schedule. 

If you have a newborn or young kids, most likely they are on a routine that probably won’t change too much, however there were probably still a lot of summer nights that your children were up longer than normal (maybe more often than not) and now it is time to get them on a sleep schedule that works for waking up to go to school. 

Set a time that they will go to bed and then create a bedtime routine that starts 30 minutes before their actual bedtime. I highly recommend this at all ages! Bath time, reading a book, tucking into bed, brushing teeth, etc. Whatever that looks like for you. We started this routine day 1 with our babies and our kids literally are clockwork with their sleep. 

Because your child and their body know it’s time to sleep, they are more easily able to wind down and rest. 

Set a wake up time!

Make sure that you give yourself enough time to get ready without feeling rushed or pressured to get out the door. When you don’t give yourself enough time, you tend to become stressed, less patient, maybe yelling at your kids (and then feel guilty afterwards), maybe yelling at your spouse.

All of that can be avoided when you simply give yourself enough time to get all the things you need to do before you head out the door. 

Make a list of things you can do the night before: Make lunches, Pack bookbags, get your work items together, prep breakfast, etc.

Bonus Tip: Another tip I love to give mommas is hang a couple whiteboards in your room, bathroom, or where ever you know you are going to see it. Write on the board the night before all the things on your list for the next day. What activities are going on, what errands you need to run, what your kids need the next day, etc. If you have time frames for that, add that. It helps you organize your day better.

The Importance of Flexibility

 

While establishing and maintaining routine has a wealth of benefits, it’s vital to also remain flexible. Spontaneity and creativity are important factors in a child’s life. For example, the breakfast dishes can wait if there is an exciting animal in the backyard or a special Saturday carnival happening in the city. 

Remember to stay sensitive and adaptable to the needs of each child (and adult). When a schedule becomes too regimented or strict, the benefits will be reduced, and children may feel controlled by it rather than freed by it (which is the ultimate goal). 

Everything doesn’t ALWAYS go as planned. Give yourself grace to know that things happen that you can’t always control. Get done the most important items and let go of the others until the next day. 

Set meal times and nap times at the same time every day. Schools set those time frames for you, but if you are homeschooling or have young kids, you will want to set those times and stick to them as best as possible. This helps you to prepare healthy snacks and meals for your kids. 

When you are rushed and unprepared, this is the time when you do what you can and typically it ends up being not the healthiest foods. 

Lastly, schedule family and play times. This is really great to help with bonding time. Kids need play time! Schedule this into your homeschool routine. Schedule this time also for after your kids get home from school. Even if it only ends up being 30 minutes.

Part of this routine is putting away your phone and being fully present with your children! Even your infant! They will pick up on these traditions and routines. The family bonds together by doing regular, important, focused and present things together.

Remember that you can always adjust as needed. As the months go on, you’ll start to see what’s working and not working for the family. A routine is meant to help the family, not hinder it. Be sure your routine is healthy and positive for your child and other family members.