getting back into a school routine after the summer holidays
Summer flew by as fast as a sandcastle swept away by the waves.
We slowed down, we caught our breath, the kids even forgot what day it was, but it's time to gently come back down to earth, September is just around the corner…
Out come the school bags, out come the new shoes, and we change the alarm time. To make this transition go smoothly, here are a few tips to ease back into the school routine.
why is it important to get back into a rhythm?
During the summer, wake-ups are later and evenings longer, and that's great! But to ease back into school life, it's essential to give the little ones reassuring reference points, and to help them gradually find a regular rhythm again.
This will help them to:
• sleep better (and concentrate better in class)
• feel secure with familiar routines
• avoid the mornings spent running around looking for the missing sock
Having a routine makes the little ones calmer, but it's also, for parents, a breath of peace.
our tips for a smooth transition
We don't have a miracle recipe, but we'll share a few simple gestures that make all the difference:
we gently reset the schedule
No need to go from sleeping in to military wake-up calls overnight, but moving bedtime an hour earlier and pushing wake-up time an hour later the week before school starts will work very well.
You can shift bedtime and wake-up time by 15 minutes each day, and on the eve of the first day, open the curtains, get out of bed, and have breakfast at school time!
we build rituals into the days
Our little ones love rituals: brushing their teeth after breakfast, reading a story before bed, singing a song while putting on pyjamas… These rituals, if they always happen in the same order, give them a tempo and reduce stress.
we prepare things the night before
The bag ready, an outfit chosen together, a snack box filled with their favorite treats. Little details that will turn the get-out-of-bed mission into something almost enjoyable.
Get your little ones involved, lay out two outfits on the bed and let them choose, then they just have to put their outfit and their things in a special morning spot so nothing gets forgotten!
getting the little ones involved
What if we gave them responsibilities to make this back-to-school transition go smoothly? Give them the mission of organizing their own schedule, doing their routine, preparing their things, and they'll be even more excited to get up in the morning!
You can make a visual checklist so nothing gets forgotten.
Every step checked off = one more step toward independence!
a back-to-school in rhythm is a calm back-to-school
No need for military organization or a perfectly planned schedule, just gradually getting back into a school rhythm, with consistency and above all plenty of kindness. Our little ones need routine and each has their own tempo.
We wish you a wonderful back-to-school season full of gentleness, rituals, and new beginnings!
the phrases your little ones say
"What are we doing this weekend, chick?" - Ambroise, 2 and a half
"I want a daddy foam (grapefruit)" - Romy, 3 years old
"One, two, fries!" - Elouan, 2 and a half
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Clémence said : on
Super article