The Summer is starting to feel like a distant memory and you can breathe a sigh of relief as you pack your offspring back to School.What can you do now to go about setting your child up for success and to help make this new School year the best yet?
The first few weeks of the school year, your child will be tired as they transition from Summer days back to having a more structured routine. Ensuring that a good bedtime routine is in place, even for a tween or teen is important as it will set them up for a good nights sleep. What would a smooth bedtime routine look like in your home?
What can you organise the night before to save the running around in the morning? Now, I am not asking you to organise this, empower your child through a checklist, timetable or visual reminder what they need in their bag, in their snack or lunch box and what uniform they need. Where practical or possible, leave it by the front door so there is no chance of forgetting it.
Have a regular family meeting in which you discuss the plans and logistics for the following week, have older children add this to their own diaries, iron out any clashes or non-communicated activities at this stage, rather than on the day. You can also plan the weekly meals and get everyone’s input, this ensures that the food that is needed is in the house and who is to cook is decided in advance.
The temptation is to perhaps enrich your child’s childhood by enrolling them in lots of additional activities, after school and on the weekends. I would encourage you to stop and think about why you are doing this. Can you strike a balance and give your child some down time to just be, well, a kid?
Children need to play, it helps them process life experiences, unwind, be creative, and problem solve. How can you build play into their new school year routine?
Screens need to be discussed, what rules do you have in place for the use of screens? By screens, I mean any electronic device from phones to TV, to gaming consoles. If your children’s use or perhaps overuse of screens, is an issue for you and your family, then sit down and discuss this with your children. Listen to understand where they are coming from, empathise with them, it doesn’t mean you have to agree but you are looking to find a way forward together rather than you trying to control the screen time situation.
Success is in the planning and communication with your loved ones, you don’t have to do this alone.
By Anisa Lewis,
Positive Parenting Coach
