By now everyone is getting back to school and it is probably a combination of relief and stress. The routine and seeing friends is great! But the stress of getting out the door, homework, and activities can be a lot! A few tips to help ease the stress:
Use checklists: Checklists help kids and adults complete tasks in order and without having to keep track of everything in their heads. For example, have a checklist that includes everything needed to get ready in the morning
Get dressed
Eat breakfast
Brush teeth
Put lunch in backpack
Put on shoes
Use calendars: Calendars are great ways to let everyone know what is happening! Electronic calendars like Google Calendar are great because you can see them on the go but old fashioned paper calendars in the kitchen work too. You can include therapy days, sports, and even days that kids are with parents if the switch houses because of divorce schedules.
Keep sleep schedules the same on weekends: It is tempting to sleep in on the weekends but that will make Mondays harder on everyone. The best way to ke successful this school year is to keep as consistent a schedule as possible.
Remember burnout: It is exhausting to start school, meet new people, and spend all day learning new things. Remember to gives kids some free time to rest and prepare for them to be stressed out. Prepare some soothing and calming activities for them to do and some downtime this first month.
Reward positive behavior: Reward kids for following routines, helping with chores, and doing homework. Doing these tasks are hard! Let’s celebrate!
Starting the school year is exciting and fun. But it can be stressful. I love the term “double dipped feelings” Two things can exist at once. With support we can all have a successful school year!
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