AUGUST IS BACK-TO-SCHOOL MONTH and with it comes a shift from summertime free time to a packed school schedule for parents and students.
So, how do parents and students handle the change?
Organize. Exercise. Eat well. Talk freely. And oh, yes, don't forget to have fun.
Adjusting to a back-to-school schedule can be chaotic. Students’ schedules are flipped around; therefore, it can be a struggle to instill and balance a sleep, homework, and extracurricular activities schedule for the school year.
“The biggest adjustment is just getting back into the routine,” said Carrie Baker, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner with The Toledo Clinic.
Two weeks before the start of classes, parents should establish bedtime hours to match what will be necessary for the school year.
In summer, students likely stayed up late and slept in, so parents need to put them to bed and get them up at the same time to establish the recommended eight hours of sleep.
Here are five essentials to establish a schoolready routine.
Organize: One to two weeks before the opening bell, have school supplies bought and ready. Include the students in figuring out what’s needed to give them a feeling of autonomy. Set up a corner in the house devoted to homework, with supplies waiting for them when they get home.
Physical health: While they’ll be sitting at desks for most of the day, students need to stay active and exercise. Baker suggests staying active by walking the dog, walking to the park or, if the weather is unfavorable, watching an hour-long workout video with or without weights. There are some fun videos to help with exercise for any age and it can be a way for parents to stay active and connect with their students.
So far as cleanliness is concerned, it’s important for parents to remember to address illnesses from others in the close confines of a classroom and to maintain proper hygiene. Make sure students practice proper hand washing, respect others' space and boundaries, provide disinfectant wipes to wipe down desks, especially ones shared by those in other class periods and other cleanliness practices.
Eat well: An essential part of getting into a routine is having a good breakfast in the morning, with a healthy amount of protein– eggs, bacon, sausage, peanut butter, cheese. It is important to maintain energy and fuel for the day.
Talk freely: Baker encourages parents to have conversations with their children about school, especially in transitional years from elementary to middle school, and from middle school to high school. Ask them what they may be anxious about, she said, “It’s important to have those conversations, to sit down at supper and have quality time with each other – put away the phones and engage with them.” Conversations help ensure students are in a good place mentally.
When sitting down and talking with them daily, parents can have an understanding of the issues students have in school.
There is a rise in anxiety and depression in students. Parents can recognize or address it by having a conversation and then take steps to diagnose depending on the situation.
Have fun: Baker reminds us that apart from the rigors and routine of school, it’s important to have fun. Extracurricular activities are key to having fun. Students must get involved in something that’s not just academics–band, flag football, theater, to name a few. For the younger children, T-ball or softball, something that introduces them to sports.
For middle schoolers and high schoolers, get them involved in something they are passionate about, music and choir, or get them more involved in competitive sports like soccer or swimming.
The best way to get students ready for the start of the school year is to establish a routine and begin to openly talk with them about what to expect throughout the upcoming school year. ✲
