8 Essential Back to School Tips
Can you believe it’s August! For some parents, that means back to school this month’s or next Some will be going back to school and getting back in the routine. Some parents will have to move their schedules around to dropping off and picking up the kiddos at school, after activities, packing lunches and the dreaded homework!
For those of you with kids, back to school time means we get back onto a nice, predictable schedule.
Or so we hope...
The first few weeks after the kids get back to class can be a little irregular. Usually because we’ve been letting them stay up late.
Returning them to a proper schedule can be a bit of an ordeal, but don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.
Here are a few strategies to get your little ones’ snooze cycle back in sync.
1. Don’t wait until school starts
Two months of late bedtimes isn’t something you can just snap back from in a night. Your child is going to need some time to adjust, so two weeks before school gets back in, start moving bedtimes back by 15 minutes every 4 nights or so.
2. Set a timer
This is a great way of deflecting the blame away from you. After all, it’s not you hustling them to get to bed. It’s the timer! It can also be a fun challenge for them to get ready before it goes off. Put a sticker on the calendar for every night they beat the clock, and offer a reward for a perfect week.
3. Turn off those screens
Computer, TV, and phone screens all emit blue light, which tricks our internal clocks into thinking that it’s still daytime. If you want my advice, power down the electronics at dinnertime and keep them off until the next morning. (This goes for parents too!)
4. Routine, routine, routine
It doesn’t matter if your child is going into grade one or grade 12. A good sleep routine is
essential. It’s not just about getting them physically ready for bed. The routine signals their brain that bedtime is approaching, and the brain starts shutting down in preparation for sleep.
5. Schedule an appropriate bedtime
Every child is different, so you probably have a good idea when they should go to bed. This is provided, of course, that your idea is 8:00. “Well,” I can hear some of you saying, “my child
usually doesn’t get tired until around 10 or 10:30, so I figure...” Let me just stop you right there. 8:00 every night. Full stop. No later. Kids need at least 10 hours of sleep a night, so unless you can wake them up and get them ready for school in half an hour, 8:00 it is.
6. Keep the room cool and dark
The sun is still staying up late and getting up early through September, so make sure the blinds in your child’s room are blocking it out. The sun also has a habit of heating up the bedrooms, so set the thermostat somewhere between 60 and 70 degrees an hour before bedtime.
7. Allow some reading time
Whether you’re reading to your kids or they’re reading on their own, a half hour of book time is a great way to wind down before going to sleep. The repetitive eye motion and low level brain activity is a natural sedative. (Which is why so many of us find ourselves falling asleep while reading to our kids.
If you still need help getting back in a routine, book a
free call with me today and let’s get started BEFORE school starts!