Back to school is upon us and I for one am not at all prepared. Neither are my children because despite the youngest not being in school yet, her routine starts to correlate with my oldest son’s who will be going into 5th grade this year.
Also, can I pause to freak out a little that my first born is going to 10 and going into 5th grade!!
So here we are with the summer coming to a close and attempting to get in to a back to school routine after late nights, summer camps and all day play. Not to mention the increased use of screens because some days you just need a break. Another factor this year is the ease back into, fingers crossed, full in person learning in most schools. Thankfully, my son was able to attend full in person learning last year without any missed days due to closures. I am hoping that continues through this year as well. So how do you get your kids into a back to school routine?
Back to School Routine Tips for Busy Parents
Make a calendar
We have a dry erase board hanging in our kitchen with my work schedule, my husband’s work schedule, anything upcoming for the kids, and dinner ideas. I am pretty bad about keeping it update over the summer but having that laid out during the school year is so helpful to not miss anything.
Organize everything
Organize all papers, supplies and clothing for an easy transition to a back to school routine. Get rid of things that you don’t need anymore, go through your children’s closets getting rid of items that they have outgrown or have holes or stains on them. Getting everything in order prior to the beginning of the school year will help your kids transition into a back to school routine.
Also make sure to save those receipts to help the schools with Box Tops for Education. Read more about the program HERE.
Establish a morning schedule
The morning schedule is the hardest for us. Establishing a morning schedule is key to getting your kids into a back to school routine. With summer, morning schedules get thrown off. Starting about a week prior to heading back to school, you should begin establish what a morning will look like. Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth and then out the door at a specific time.
Consistent Bedtime
Consistent bedtime is important for any aged child. My son has to get up super early for school, especially on days that I have to work. This makes having a consistent bedtime routine key for him not to be grumpy in the morning. Let’s be honest, kids will stay up as late as they want if we let them. So sticking to a predictable time during the school week helps him be able to get up on time on those busy weekday mornings.
Prepare the night before
On mornings that I know are going to be particularly busy (i.e. mornings that I also have to make it to work by 7am), I prepare everyone the night before. This means making lunches for myself, the kids and having everything ready to walk out the door on time.
Have your kids gone back to school yet? Have you gotten your kids back into a back to school routine?
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