During the summer many of us change our regular daily routines and slow down. We go on vacations. We sleep later in the morning. We lounge by the pool. We stay up late and forget to do our chores. In the summer everything becomes more relaxed.  After a few months of this relaxed schedule, we realize the new school year is upon us. There are stressors involved in transitioning from the end of summer to the start of the school year.  Stressors may include: re-adjusting to our school year daily routines; adjusting to a new grade, a new school, a new class schedule and after school activities.

Transitioning from summer vacation to the beginning of the school year can be hectic, but there are a few things that parents can do to make the transition a little smoother. Remember, life is better for everyone when going to school is a fun and exciting event. If your attitude about school is positive, it will reflect in your child’s attitude about school. Fostering a love for education, learning and having a positive, playful attitude about your child’s curiosity will go a long way to helping them to be ready for school. If we are anxious, it can make our children feel anxious as well.

There are many things we can do to help our children be ready for school - helping them adjust to a new bedtime, familiarizing them with their new school and bus stop. Establishing helpful organizational habits in the evenings, can make the mornings go smoothly. All of these things can help to make going to school a more positive experience and start your children’s school days on the right foot.

After a summer of relaxed schedules, trying to get children to bed before their first day of school is much like wrangling cats. You put one child to bed and the other one needs a drink. And just when you think you’re sitting down, you realize you need to make lunches for work and school. Transitioning from summer vacation to the school year can be hectic, but there are a few things you can do to make the transition a little smoother. For instance, start early by creating a transitional time period for everyone. A week or two before school starts, set earlier bedtimes and begin the routine of going to bed at the time you will use during the school year. Developing good sleep hygiene habits helps your child to mentally prepare for bedtime.  Good sleep hygiene includes activities that signal the body it's time to sleep, like going to bed at the same time each night, shutting down technology at the same time every night, and keeping your room dark. It also includes avoiding caffeine or other stimulants for several hours before bedtime. http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/sleepless.html?ref=search

Have your children take a shower, brush their teeth, read, listen to some soothing music, and put their pajamas on. Start at the same time every night and spend the last hour of the day settling down and helping your children prepare their brains for sleep. When you begin your sleep hygiene routines, start by making it a “no screen” time. No cell phones, no video game and no TV. Developing a routine where you do the same things every night at the same time before going to bed signals to your body and your brain that it is time to settle down and prepare to sleep. This means no horse play and no running. Making quiet time at the same time every night is important to training the brain to prepare for bed. Having a nightly routine that is done in the same order each night for young children is especially helpful.  The focus of this time should be on relaxation and shutting down active brain activity.

Another tip that can help school mornings go smoothly and set a positive tone for the school day is to help your children organize themselves for school the night before. Teaching your children organizational skills that they can use lifelong can begin at an early age. This can include completing homework at the same time every day. Take the time in the afternoon or early evening to find out if your child needs any materials or supplies for school the next day. It can be quite unsettling for your child to tell you 15 minutes before leaving for school that they need five cans and some string for a project at school that day. See Joe Scruggs humorous song “Oh By the Way.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5jWE6Cs_tA&index=1&list=RDp5jWE6Cs_tA 

To avoid fights about clothing with young children in the morning, one tip is to have the child select what s/he wants to wear the next day and set it out. Show your child two outfits and have him or her pick the one s/he wants to wear the next day. This gives your child a choice and addresses the decision the night before, so the morning can be peaceful.  Set the clothes out with shoes, socks, etc. Set out the backpack and gather items together needed for the next school day. This is a good time to place all those cans and string in the backpack too.

Lastly, if your child is attending school for the first time or transitioning to middle or high school, let your child visit their new school and bus stop before the first day of school. Visit the school and walk around the halls, visit the school office and say hello to the staff. Make it a fun activity by inviting one of their friends to go with you. For middle school and high school students, get their schedules and walk from class to class. On the first day of school, your child will be more comfortable having seen where everything is prior to the rush of the first day.

Having a plan to transition into the new school year can make it smoother. Most often, your child will pick up on your attitude about the first day of school and mimic it. If you are anxious about your child going to school, they will be anxious too. Adjusting to the new routine early and teaching your child how to organize the night before can give them lifelong skills in creating helpful routines, good sleep hygiene, and setting the scene for calm mornings to start each day.

Debra started her career with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University and worked for 15 years in business management and human resources. She then made a career change by earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Kennesaw State University & her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling at Georgia State University. She has worked in the mental health field with adults of all ages including young adults and geriatric adults for the past 5 years in various capacities. She has worked as a group therapist in an outpatient treatment program, as a Mental Health counselor in an in-patient adult geriatric program, and as a community mental health counselor. She has interest and experience in depression, anxiety, women’s issues, family/work balance, parenting, and stress management. She enjoys spending her leisure time with her husband and three adult sons, going kayaking, quilting, and gardening.