Are we already in the final weeks of summer before school is back in session? It feels like just yesterday we were sharing things on the Local Pulse, talking about summer break must-do’s!
The pros of summer outweigh the cons, with the exception of the humidity. The kids don’t have homework, the family gets to go on trips, and the garden is growing.
As summer melts away, don’t let yourself get trapped in the dread of rushing to prepare for a new school year at the last minute. With a few short weeks left, this is a great time to motivate the kids and prepare the house for the season ahead.
Here are the 3 R’s for successfully setting up your fall routine:
- Reflect
- If your child made new friends at camp, or you’ve got family out of town, writing a letter is a great way to get the kids back into focus mode. Speaking for my family, we haven’t picked up a pencil or felt the need to get out a piece of paper yet. This allows for your student to refresh their writing skills and share thoughtful reflections on their summer with someone who would appreciate hearing about it.
- If your child has summer reading, make sure that they did it! This is another opportunity to ask questions and get your child excited about the new school year. It will save everyone stress if they knock it out if they haven’t already done it.
- Get the pictures printed! This seems silly, given that social media is the main place people seem to stay connected. What happened to physical photo albums and flipping through all the captured memories? Printing out photos of family fun during the summer can be a great way to remember when life starts to pick up and get busy. Have the kids help with putting it together and sharing their personal memories of all that you did.
- Reset
- It’s time to clean out the closets! Thrift stores are a great place to bring all of your clothes that don’t fit. This is a great activity to help the kids reset. It also gives you a clear idea of what else they need to be set for success. Allowing our kids to take charge of their belongings and detaching from things that don’t fit will help them, in the long run, to not hoard things that no longer serve them. Find thrift stores here that will take whatever they can get!
- The tax-free week begins Monday, July 29th, for all the new school shopping!
- Maybe your child went through a growth spurt or their interests have changed. This is a great time to reset bedrooms, deep clean the house, or a fresh coat of paint. Projects like this can keep your child busy, and their mind focused on taking on the next grade level with a new look and clear head.
- Routine
- Once you’ve taken time to reflect and reset with your family, then it is time to establish the new routine. If you’ve been eating dinner late and staying up past normal bedtime, it may be a good idea to start weaning.
- From what I’ve gathered, a new routine or habit takes a couple of weeks to form. Pushing a child to go to bed earlier than they have been while starting school the same week can be a lot for their brain to adjust to.
- Make an extra effort to get a head start on your daily routine. Align your breakfast, lunches, and dinner with the time slots you’ll fall into in the next few weeks.
Seasons are always going to change, and the time will always seem to slip away. Preparing yourself for what’s ahead can help reduce the end-of-summer dread!
