Back to School Again
It is that time of year again. The kids are off to school, backpacks in tow, lunches packed, smiles on their angelic little faces. Except, your child has grown accustomed to hours of play and unstructured time, your teen has morphed into a media monster, and your young adult is growing cold feet about their long-coveted independence. Back to school is not always a straight-forward process. In fact, it can take weeks for kids to readjust to the routine, get on track with their sleeping habits, and rebuild the discipline to sit in a classroom for hours on end and come home eager to complete their assigned homework and projects.
Easing them into the routine slowly can help. Many schools are now recognizing this, assisting with the transition by having kids go back to school in the middle or latter part of the week, allowing them time to readjust to the new schedule. Spending hours in a learning environment all day can feel tedious, and even daunting for some kids who may have more trouble focusing to begin with. For children with neuro-divergence, setting up a transition plan and morning routine is essential to help them focus on gathering their items and getting out the door with minimal resistance and melt downs.
A few tips that help ease the transition back to school:
Have a set bedtime and wake up time. It is important that kids are well rested before school. However, they may need to transition by going through a “sleep re-set” to help them switch from “summer hours” to “school hours.” It may mean pushing their bedtime back more slowly (in 30 minute increments), and setting their wake-up time consistently. It is also helpful to minimize daytime or after school napping, as this can interfere with sleepiness at bedtime.
Plan for Morning Hygiene Routine. Teens may require a longer or more involved hygiene routine than younger kids. If your teenager takes 20 minutes to shower, 10 minutes to style their hair and makeup, and 5 minutes to pick out their outfit, allow 40 extra minutes before eating breakfast and gathering their items to get out the door.
Set out school outfits ahead of time. Helping your children pick out their clothes the night before can ameliorate a lack of decisiveness on the day/ morning of. Encouraging your teen to select their outfits in advance would help as well, especially if your son or daughter has a knack for making a fashion statement. This can also help to minimize any arguments that may ensue that may sound similar to, “You think you’re wearing that?”
Don’t Skip Breakfast. It’s amazing how many kids and teens (and adults as well) think that breakfast is unimportant. It is recommended that children eat a nourishing breakfast to jump start their day and metabolism. Yes, we know parents are busy and already feeling frazzled by the 20 plus items they need to accomplish to assist their children in the morning. But even a “to go” breakfast of a smoothie and granola bar can do the trick.
Homework Help. At the end of a long day back at school, kids may feel overwhelmed by the idea of needing to do extra work. Sometimes schools give kids a break from homework for the first couple of weeks after school begins. But even if your child does have homework right away, helping them get into an after-school routine of accomplishing it prior to doing any outside extra-curricular activities will set them up for success throughout the year.
Remember that ultimately kids and teens (and even your young adult), will adjust to going back to classes, becoming more independent, and self-guided as they settle into the year. Challenges inevitably will arise, but if you face each day with confidence and a supportive structure, your child will be back in the school groove in no time.
