School’s in full swing, but are your kids? Mine started off super excited. They got to see friends they hadn’t seen in a while. But the newness of the back-to-school season has since faded. These days my kids seem…tired. What happened? How can I get them back into school mode after summer break?
There are things we can do to give our kids a boost after the first month (or two) of school is behind us. First, let’s all take a breath and face the music: summer break’s over! Then, we can move on to the 7 major ways to get back into school mode after summer break ends. (Let’s do it! Parent-teacher conferences are around the corner!)
1. Make sure you have structure to your days.
Having a morning routine that includes breakfast and leaving on time can start the day on the right foot. And an afterschool routine can set kids up for success if they know what to expect. Seattle Children’s says, “[W]hen children have strong routines at home, they have an easier time in school with both learning and friendships.” So, if you’re wishing you were still in summer mode and haven’t quite set up your school routines yet, start to transition to a regular, daily schedule in your home this week.
2. Give your child support with learning right off the bat.
If you know your child struggles with math or reading, spend extra time on that subject during the week. Many kids decide early on whether they’re going to do well, or struggle. And it affects their confidence. Work with your child to brush up on forgotten skills from last school year, and to establish a solid understanding of new material. Everything builds on the curriculum from the fall, so growing a child’s confidence with understanding right away is key. Ask your child’s teacher for assistance if you’d like more guidance!
3. Help your child reconnect with friends to strengthen social connections.
With my daughter, she likes anything more if she has a friend with her. School will probably be more enjoyable if your child has friends in her class. Help her get together with kids she’d like to know better. Try to reestablish relationships that may have fizzled over the summer. Knowing you have a buddy in class, at lunch, or on the playground can make any difficult situation a touch easier.
4. Re-establish a bedtime.
It’s easy to let bedtime slide when the sun’s still out. But sleep is good not only for brain development but also for school performance. Make sleep a priority. The Sleep Foundation says without enough sleep, kids “can have problems with attention, memory, and problem-solving.” Sleep deprivation can also “contribute to emotional issues and behavior problems that may affect academic achievement.” Decide on a bedtime, then work backwards to fit in a bath, brush teeth, and to listen to a story. A nightly routine can signal to your child that bedtime’s coming—and it’s important!
5. Make effort to do emotional check-ins.
When everyone’s working hard to be on time, follow schedules, remember books, and be in bed at a decent hour, our kids’ feelings can get lost in the mix. Even though we have a million things on our plates, checking in with them to really ask how they’re doing can make a difference in attitude and wellbeing. Try to find one-on-one time with your child when he’s not distracted by something else. Maybe it’s after dinner, or at bedtime. Ask, What made you feel proud (or happy, nervous) today? What’s one thing you’re looking forward to tomorrow?
6. Provide much-needed space to wind down.
We’re all human. And no one can go 100 mph every day. Kids often work hard to be on best behavior during the day but then need space to let it all hang out after school. Understand that, like us, they need time to recharge their batteries to feel better and to tackle whatever needs to be done in the evenings. You could say, What would you like to do to wind down? And you could suggest some backyard play, reading, listening to music, or even a nap.
7. Give your child encouragement, not pressure.
Being a kid isn’t easy. Your child needs encouragement to keep trying and doing the best she can. With pressure, sometimes kids crack or shut down because they think they can’t be the person you want them to be. If instead you send the message that you accept your child for who she is, and that you’re proud of her effort, she’ll gain the confidence and resilience she needs to keep going, even when things are tough.
How do you and your kids get back into school after summer break?
