How to Get Kids Back into Routine After Summer

The slow, laid-back summer days are almost over, and it's time to get kids back into routine. Early wake-ups, the morning rush to get ready, and packing lunchboxes are looming closer.

​To ease this transition, it's essential to prepare for more structure as we approach the end of August.

Your toddler may want to sleep in a bit more while you desperately try to get them to do things they don't want, like brushing their teeth and getting dressed. These tasks can be surprisingly tricky and require a great deal of patience. That said, we know a few tricks to help you with the first day or week of preschool and ensure a smoother transition for all family members involved.

During the Week Leading Up to the First Day of Preschool

Getting Used to the Idea of Waking Up Earlier

To get kids back into routine, progressively wake them up earlier every day. Walk into their room and open the blinds or pull the curtains. Then, leave their bedroom door open and start your regular daily routine. The typical noise of the house will wake them up gradually.

Get Ready Immediately After Breakfast

Start the day with a good breakfast, and then move on with your day right away. No lounging in pajamas. Once breakfast is over, it's time to brush their teeth and get dressed for the day. This introduces the notion of time and sequence so that they can adjust to that start time for their day. It also helps them get into the habit of getting ready and eventually out the door early for the upcoming mornings.

Structure Meals and Snack Times

Summer dinners are often a casual affair, eaten at varying times depending on what adventure they've been on that day. You can change that by making meals and snack times more predictable. If you typically eat around 6 or 7 PM during the school year, try to reacquaint with regular dinnertime, leading to an earlier bedtime.

Discuss with Them

Start mentioning the new school or new class and the new friends they will make. Let them know how many sleeps until preschool starts, and take the opportunity to adjust your actions simultaneously. By that, we mean progressively waking them up earlier each day, eating dinner earlier at the same time, and heading to bed a bit earlier. Make baby steps towards your goal.

Make Quick Detours to Show the School

How about a little road trip to the new school to show them where they will start preschool soon? Show them the building and the playground area or the toys in the playground area. If art is hanging at the windows, point at it. Express how fun everything looks. Kids have a natural curiosity for their surroundings, so use that magic to make a smooth transition that both kids and parents need.

The Week Before School

Prepare Clues in Their Environment

To get kids back into a routine, prepare a schedule showing when preschool is starting. Hang it on a wall where they can see it multiple times daily. Introduce them to the concept of time. Especially with younger kids, they do not possess the notion of time. They do not know what five, ten minutes or an hour represents. Helping them understand time with a watch or schedule can help them progressively grasp the concept of time.
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Get their clothes ready, buy a little backpack or lunchbox they will carry with them, and put name tags everywhere. Involve them in the process. Usually, it helps reduce surprises in the morning when school starts. For instance, laying out an outfit gives a sense of involvement and fun, and packing their bag can help them feel prepared.

Get Them Involved

Go shopping for preschool items, such as the clothes they wear on the first day or a lunchbox. Get them involved, give them a choice, and let them decide what they like. Try to offer different lunch options and go grocery shopping together. It is way more exciting and fun than packing something yourself.

The Morning of the First Day of Preschool

Strengthen the Concept of Time

On the first day of preschool, use your smartphone's clock to set a timer for different things. For instance, you have fifteen minutes for breakfast, ten minutes to dress up, and ten minutes to brush your teeth and go to the car. Strengthening the time markers really helps your kids stay on track. Plus, you will reduce occurrences of having to rush and time pressure people around you to stay on track. No one likes to hear or repeat, "Hurry up now! We are late!" Do yourself a favor.

Remember, They Observe You

Kids repeat and mimic what they hear and see. If they feel you are stressed, they will feel that anxiety too. It is not easy to control emotions, so do your best. Emotions tend to get triggered during times of change. That's when big feelings like anxiety and melancholy tend to surface. It's totally understandable, especially when the family had fun during the vacation, and the rhythm was a bit different. Transition periods are never easy. To avoid the emotional hit, talk together about it.

Let Them Express Their Feelings

It is normal to feel big emotions during transition periods. Use this as an opportunity to talk about how you all feel about it. Give them a safe space where you can share your experience as a kid or that you gained at work and give them an opportunity to share theirs. They will feel listened to. How about starting with "I remember my first day at school" or at work and telling them how you felt inside? Ask them how they feel and listen to their response.

Additional Tips to Get Kids Back into Routine

Implement A Tech-free Moment

At least an hour before bedtime, limit screen time to wind down and promote better sleep. The blue light from screens can interfere with their ability to fall asleep and impact their quality of sleep.

Involve Kids in Preparing for the Next Day

Get them excited about their meals and mornings by involving them in planning and preparing healthy breakfast and lunch options and selecting the clothes they will wear the next day. This will help them build independence.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Consider using a reward system for getting ready on time to motivate them. Positive reinforcement can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.

Your Takeaways

Transitions can be challenging, but with some planning and communication, you can help your kids adjust smoothly to the new preschool routine. If you have any additional tips or tricks that have worked for your family, please share them in the comments below.

Remember, consistency is key—stick to the routine, and soon enough, it will become second nature for you and your kids.
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Happy transitioning to your family, and have a great school year!