Being parents, we all want to do everything we can to help our children succeed in every area of life. One particularly important area we want to help them in their education. With summer winding down and a return to school looming in the not too distant future, it’s important that we do what we can to help get our children ready for back to school. Here are some ways you can make that happen.
See where you can help
Every child is different and as a result, every child learns differently and has different struggles. As their parent, there are some ways you can help them do their best in school, but you’ll want to tailor what you actually do to your individual child’s needs.
If they struggle with homework, find the right environment for them to work in and help them as needed. Some kids struggle with test-taking. You can meet with your child’s teacher to see what can be done and help them find a way of studying that works.
It’s important to remember that everyone is different and has unique needs. Don’t get frustrated and work through any issues together to succeed.
Set up a routine
Part of making sure your kids are ready to head back to school is getting them into a routine. No matter how old they are, adding structure to the day makes things run more smoothly.
This means making sure your kids are adhering to a certain time to wake up and go to bed on school days, setting expectations on when homework should be started and trying to have meals around the same time each day.
Make waking up easier
Remember when nothing was worse than having to leave the comfort of your bed to get up and go to school? Make this everyday occurrence easier for your kids than it was for you. Having a certain time to be awake every day, makes waking up easier. Soon, their bodies will start to know when it’s time to be awake.
You can also make waking up the fun by letting them pick out an alarm clock they’ll love. Whether it depicts a beloved character of theirs or is one that gradually wakes them with light and/or sound, it’s easier to get up when you don’t hate the way you’re woken.
Start limiting screen time
Screen time is the enemy of productivity. Make sure that your kids are being as productive as possible, and are free from any unwanted distractions, by limiting how much time they are spending looking at screens.
This means only letting them watch a few hours of television per day, having them leave their phone in a different room while doing homework and even saying no to video games on school nights. While your kids might not understand the limitations you are placing on them, they will only help them to develop good study habits.
Ensure a good night’s sleep
Sleep is essential to being successful and productive. Make sure your children are well equipped to get a full night’s rest so they can be ready to tackle the school day. This starts with having the right base and making sure your child has a comfortable mattress that will support them while they sleep.
Now, you want to make sure their room is comfortable and promotes their sleeping preferences. If they need a light, put a decorative night light in their room instead of allowing them to have their television on. If your child doesn’t like it to be too quiet, try a white noise machine to help lull them to sleep. Having a bedside fan serves a dual purpose of keeping them cool while also providing background noise.
Encourage good habits
A lot of children learn through their surroundings. Be sure you are practising the skills and habits that you’re trying to get your kids to embody. The saying, monkey see monkey do, exists for a reason!
You can also encourage your kids to get involved in activities that pique their interest. Not only will they be doing something they enjoy, but it will also help to sharpen their social skills!
Customize a study area
Just as everyone learns differently, everyone also studies differently. Help your children discover what their individual preferences are, such as if they need absolute quiet or prefer a desk over the couch. Once you know what they prefer, suggest a place for them to do the work that’ll help them.
One the location is determined, you can help them to set up space so it works for them. That can mean making sure the kitchen table is clear, setting up a desk in their room or even getting a lap desk for the living room. Again, remember everyone is different and what works for one of your kids might not work for another. Their individual success is what matters!
Great ideas. All mine are different with how they approach school, but hopefully I can tie them all into one routine!
I think this will be a suck it and see approach this year as I have one child starting senior school!
This is really great advice. We’ve started to get ours back in to school mode already. Fingers crossed it helps them x
The Summer hols have flown by so quickly, haven’t they? x
i am kicking a routine starting from tonight no more staying up late cos my teen got to be fresh faced in the morning hehe – great tips – kind regards Pati Robins- stylesqueeze blog
Yes, we have got back to earlier bedtimes too, such a shame I can’t make myself follow those rules too!
These are all great tips. My youngest is starting school for the first time this week so it’s all new to her and she is very excited! I, on the other hand, don’t want the Summer to end!
I am totally with you there, I didn’t want the Summer to end either and am missing my children now they have returned to school. I hope you youngest is enjoying school so far.
We’re starting to get Erin back into a routine ready for Wednesday. The summer has gone so fast this year.
It has, hasn’t it? I don’t know where Summer has gone. I hope Erin has settled back into school well.
Great tips here. I am dreading Tuesday morning, I’m not sure how we are going to cope with the 7.30am wake up, they’ve been sleeping in til gone 9 most mornings! Eek!
Same here. The children have actually coped really well with the change, it’s me who is the problem!
We are trying to hammer down a new routine now that school has started, some good ideas here
Every little helps 😉
These are all great tips. I agree with the routine and limiting screen time especially. Our son thrives on routine.
I think the thing with routine is that everyone knows where they are.
Routine definitely helps us, we try to get everything ready the night before so that bags are packed and uniform is laid out ready to put on so there is less faffing about.
I think this is a great idea and definitely helps with the morning rush.
I can’t believe the summer hols are nearly over, it’s going to be a shock when we need to get up early to school. I live by a routine to keep us organised
I must admit, I am really struggling with the early mornings again. The children are doing way better than me!
We’ve definitely limited screen time now the kids are going back to school. It does make a big difference to their sleep.
I think it makes a difference to their sleep and their moods, it certainly does with mine.
We start the routine changes a week before so it isn’t a sudden shock to the system
Yes we start bringing the bedtimes forward a little earlier each day, it definitely helps.
The alarm clock idea is a really good one!
I hope you find it helpful.