Dear Diane,

Every year we have a hard time getting our kids used to the back-to-school routine. Do you have any tips on how to get them readjusted after the summer break?

Thanks so much,
Janine, Red Deer, AB

Dear Janine,

Excellent question Janine! I know when my kids were younger, getting them ready to go back to school meant getting them adjusted to a stricter schedule – both in the evenings and in the mornings. But after a summer of fun and freedom, that can be a challenge!

As your family is getting ready for back to school, make your evenings a little more structured. I made sure that we ate dinner together and at the same time every night. It’s important you begin to encourage an earlier bed time, and make sure that’s consistent.

In the mornings leading up to school, try some “practice runs.” Set the alarm to get your kids used to waking up earlier and instead of getting up to play or watch TV, have them get dressed and ready as if they were going to school. Then, just like a regular school day, have breakfast as a family. I liked to set up play-dates with their school friends, as a reward for getting up early and to help get them excited about going back to school.

As a mom, my goal was always to make sure that going back to school was as painless as possible. I always found that anything I could do to ease into the tighter timelines and stricter schedules of September made this time of transition simple. These are just a few of the ways I used to do that – anything else you can do to help is always a great idea!

Have a fantastic fall,

Diane
SC Johnson

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