How to Recharge Your Child for School

Two months of vacation or the so-called summer break is long enough to derail your school-age children’s train of motivation. In those two months, your kids may have slackened off, relaxed a bit too much, and forgotten their lessons.

But it shouldn’t turn out that way. There are ways to help your kids recover from summer hangover, gently easing them back into the old routine without shocking their systems and ruining vacation. You can start a few days before they return to classes. Anything earlier than that would be a bit of a killjoy. Here are some suggestions to help prevent the First Day Blabs and sidestep the chaos that normally comes with the turf.

1. Begin establishing a bedtime routine that ensures adequate rest. To avoid cranky, groggy kids on the first day of school, move bedtime back gradually.
2. Start using the alarm clock so they get used to it. One idea for really slow movers after classes resume is to move bedtime 15 minutes earlier for each time someone has to go back to their rooms to try and rouse them. It attacks the problem from two sides. First, if they are not getting enough sleep, you are getting them to bed earlier. Second, if they are just being difficult, creating consequences for their actions can be an effective incentive to change.
3. Make time to talk about the transition. Put a positive spin on returning to school by talking about all the fun aspects of school and the friends your kids will see again.
4. Your children may have done very little reading over the vacation, so a few days before the reopening, get together with them and read them books that you know they’ll enjoy.
5. A routine is the key to stress-free mornings. Plan to make busy mornings a breeze with the following tips:
* Lay out clothes for the next day the night before, including uniforms.
* Organize book bag contents and materials for school the night before, so they’re ready to go in the morning.
* Plan for breakfast. Make sure they get a good breakfast that will keep them energized, alert and ready to tackle the day’s tasks.
* Give them an extra treat in, their lunchbox. Helen’s daughter hates the first day of school after a long break and returns to classes rather grumpy but is cheered up during recess when she sees the surprise her mother has packed for her — a muffin, a Hershey’s bar, or an extra piece of barbecue. Little things like those help her face the rest of the day with a little more spirit.

Tag:Recharge Your Child for School|Child Education