DrDeClutterBlog.com

Depending on your child’s school schedule it’s back to school time this month for many. Are you ready?

You don’t have to be a magician to get your kids out of bed and out the door for school but, it’s a painful shock to most children’s systems to move from a carefree summer — up late nights and sleeping in and brain on off – to a the hectic schedule of school and activities, new situations, morning arguements about not getting out of bed on time or out the door, etc.

Save yourself and your family fights, hurt feelings and stress by getting into a schedule before school begins.

It’s imperative to your child and to you to start their “back to school” habits now, not the day after they start and are already tired, aggitated, confused and ill prepared for the rhythm they need to get into to make school, studies, homework, activities, family time, chores, play and sleep work like a well oiled metronome.

1. Set a bed time and stick to it, no more late summer hours.

2. Get up earlier in the morning to get used to early hours.

3. Don’t let days be non-time-committed. Give children chores, a schedule, books to read, etc. (Things they should be doing all summer!)

4. Get a school calendar started so that everyone knows that this is the place to go and look to see what’s upcoming that everyone needs to know about. This also starts the conversation about school and gets everyone’s minds on what’s coming up and how to prepare for it.

5. Make it happy. School should be happy and creative, so no down-talking school as compared to summer, nor saying things like, “I can’t wait until you’re in school, this summer is driving me crazy!” Kids don’t need to be put down for being, well, kids!

And remember, these school habits aren’t just for them, they’re for you too! The more you’re all in sync with the new schedule, the better your family gets along every day. How nice is that?!