Back to School: Developing Your Child’s Daily Routine

Yes, it is that time again, to start preparing for the children to return to school. There are many things that need to be done, but probably the most important is establishing or reestablishing daily routines. Summer hours or the lack of them can mean staying up late and sleeping later and wreaking havoc on routines established from last school year. Daily routines are essential to ensure that your child is ready to get everything he needs from the education system to be all that he can be when he grows up. Some things may have changed since last school year. Your child is older and may go to a different school, which will change his routine from last year. They may need to get up earlier to catch the bus or they can go to another after school caregiver.

As your child grows and transitions from elementary school to high school, then to high school, the routine of choosing their classes will change, and subsequently the routine of the route they take to get to those new classes will change. New locker assignments should be factored into your daily class routing. After-school activities should also be included in their routine and schedule, to ensure that they have transportation to and from these activities. These routines will need to be reviewed along the way as things change, but the foundation of your routine is the place to start. Repeating this routine will make it a habit, and the sooner you start, the sooner it becomes second nature, meaning less will have to remind them and hopefully the less will complain about your constant complaints. The points below will help you create or revise your child’s daily routine for a smooth transition to their new school year.

• Review the routines from the previous year for each child and for yourself.
• List the changes in your child’s life from the previous year, for example moving from elementary school to high school. Next to each change, list the factors that will change your routine from the previous year, for example, moving to high school, you need to go to bed earlier to get up earlier to catch the bus.
• Make it easy by reviewing last year’s routine to incorporate this year’s changes. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel!
• Document your new routine and post it where you and your child can see it.
• Start this new routine early, about 3 weeks before school starts to make it easier for them and you to get involved.
• Be consistent. Repetition will turn this routine into a habit in no time!