How to Transition Back to a School Schedule

When summer comes around, for most kids, schedules go out the window, kids can go to bed later, wake up later, and fill their day with fun in between. But these practices, although fun, aren’t compatible with schooling. We recommend easing your children back into the school schedule, rather than jumping back in all at once on the first day of school. And here’s how we recommend you do it: 

1. Make sure your child is getting plenty of sleep. Determine how much sleep your kid should be getting at their age. Once you determine this, you can figure out what time you should make bedtime.
2. Begin to wake them up earlier. Even though you are setting a target bedtime, consider adjusting what time your kids wake up first. A certified sleep consultant recommends, “starting in the morning so that it begins to adjust the entire day towards their school schedule. If they wake up earlier in the morning, the theory is that they will be tired enough at night to have an earlier bedtime.” 
3. Start the two steps listed above at least one week before school starts. Some children can easily make these adjustments, but for some that don’t adjust to change as easily making smaller shifts each day can help your child to adjust more gently to the new schedule. 
4. Decrease the amount of time spent on electronics. Especially before bedtime, the blue light that is emitted by screens can be stimulating and delay a child’s ability to fall asleep. 

Transitioning to a back to school schedule won’t always be easy, but it doesn’t have to be painful. Start as early as possible and make sure that your children are set to start learning on the very first day of school!