Ensure your family has a smooth back-to-school transition by getting your schedule in order, talking to your kids about what to expect, and setting some realistic goals. Here are some tips for a seamless back-to-school transition this fall. 

One of the best parts about summer is staying out later and sleeping in a bit longer. It can be really difficult for kids to go from waking up at 9 am to 6 am when school starts back up. Help them ease into this school-based schedule by setting a school appropriate bedtime and morning wake up a few weeks before school starts. After about a week, this will come more naturally, and your kids won’t struggle with poor sleep during their first week back at school. A healthy sleep schedule is crucial for a healthy brain, which your kids will definitely need! 

Going back to school involves more than just academics. Kids are also returning to sports, clubs, and various after school activities. Get out your calendar and write out everything you can in advance so that you have a good understanding of your schedule. You may need to coordinate rides to and from school and after school activities. Reach out to fellow parents to talk about carpooling if necessary- don’t wait until the last minute! Having a clear and organized schedule ahead of you is a great way to ease any anxiety you may feel about the busy first few weeks of school. Additionally, take time to explore all the after-school activities that are available and sign up before they are full. 

It’s important to involve your children in the back-to-school preparation. Sit down and talk to them about what they are looking forward to this year and ask them to set some short-term and long-term goals for themselves. A short-term goal might look like making a new friend, and a long-term goal might involve getting a certain midterm GPA. For positive reinforcement, you can select different rewards for each goal. You might decide to celebrate with a movie night, special trip, or new game. This way, your child has something exciting to look forward to with the beginning of the school year! 

Summer is such a special time in children’s lives that it can be difficult to see the positivity in going back to school. Most likely, kids are focused on the negative aspects like having to get up early, go to bed sooner, and having less free time to spend with their friends and families outside. Raise their spirits by talking about some of the best moments of the previous school year. What was their favorite school assembly or field trip? Did they build any new friendships? Help them remember that going back to school means new adventures and new growth! 

Club Z! Tutoring of Glenbrook specializes in providing individualized, in-home, and virtual tutoring for students K-12 in Northbrook and Glenview. If you want your child to work on developing skills that will translate to improved grades and self-esteem, contact us today at: bbalatsos@clubztutoring.com.