Back to School Series: Part 1
All About Bedtime
The start of a new school year is right around the corner! As summer draws to a close, many parents are thinking about how to help their children transition from the less structured summertime routine back into the school routine. Even though children may feel excited to return to school, any change in routine for children can cause stress and anxiety as the new routine is established.
As educators and mothers, we’ve pulled together our best tips and strategies to help ease the transition back into school.
Our first tip in our Back to School Blog Series is focused on establishing an earlier bedtime routine since if children are tired, they're less likely to be able to focus in the classroom or have the ability to perform their best. With the longer summer hours and more flexibility to sleep in, summer bedtimes tend to be later than school bedtimes.
"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
School age children need 9-11 hours of sleep per night. If children have been going to bed around 8:45pm throughout the summer and the goal is to be at 7:30pm by the start of the school year, we suggest slowly starting to bring bedtime back to your school routine by reducing the hours in 15-30 minute increments every other night.
10 Day Back to School Bedtime Reset Schedule
Day 1 & 2: Bedtime 8:30
Day 3 & 4: Bedtime 8:15
Day 5 & 6: Bedtime 8:00
Day 7 & 8: Bedtime 7:45
Day 9 & 10: Bedtime 7:30
Sometimes, bedtime can be a dreaded part of the day because everyone is tired, children are rowdy (because they're tired), and there's usually a list of things we need to do as parents in order to prepare for the next day once the kids are asleep. (Or, we need our glorious me time before our own adult bedtime!)
There are many ways to make the bedtime routine turn into a time everyone looks forward to (even the children!). Children thrive on routines and structure. Setting up a routine that will bring lasting, cherished memories and provide one on one bonding moments from the beginning of the school year will make this transition even easier.
Our personal bedtime routines with our own children include:
- Bathtime
- 1-2 free choice books
- Relaxation Routine with Slumberkins
- Snuggles, kisses, hugs
- Sweet dreams
Our suggested strategies and routines are a general guideline for how to help children get the rest they need so they’ll be ready to learn on that first day of school. In our next Back to School Blog Article, we’ll discuss tips on how to help children establish independence in what they wear and making mornings a breeze to get out the door on time!
Quote by: Benjamin Franklin
Photography by: The Modern Nest Photography
