Back to school is an exciting time with new routines, clean new school supplies, new subjects to learn, and new activities to try. It’s hard to believe that the new year is just around the corner when summer is in full swing. Carefree days and late nights are part of the appeal of summer. But soon summer will be over and a new school year will begin.
It can be very difficult to go from freedom and flexibility to a schedule overnight. You don’t want to say, “Go to bed early tonight, school starts tomorrow!” I have always homeschooled my six children, but that doesn’t mean there is no homeschool routine. In fact, having a routine to organize your day helps you stay on track, get more done, and be less stressed.
With my kids, I’ve always found it helpful to start transitioning to a new routine early so they have time to get used to it. And believe it or not, now is the time to start preparing for the back-to-school routine. The new school year will start before we know it!
So whether you homeschool your kids or send them to school, these tips will help your family transition from summer back to school.
How to get back to school smoothly
The transition from the unscheduled summer days to the more packed school days can be difficult for anyone, especially the kids. That’s why I like to start getting my family into a routine around the end of July. That way, we have a few weeks to prepare and get back into the routine. But if you can’t start at the end of July, don’t worry! Having a structured routine helps at any time of the year.
These tips have worked well for us as we transitioned in our home. There’s a lot of routine to create, but kids really need (and crave) structure and know what to expect.
Don’t forget to involve your kids when planning your daily routine! My kids are known to have family meetings and set routine chores. My kids all know how to cook, so they can contribute to family meals. As parents, we are ultimately responsible for the atmosphere in our home. However, I have found that my kids have great ideas for contributing to our schedules.
Create a morning routine
After all the lazy mornings of the summer, school morning routines can seem overwhelming. But if you have a routine set for school hours, the transition will be much smoother. It will help make mornings a little less stressful (but not completely stress-free, of course!).
Start by figuring out what time it takes to get everyone to school or start the day. Then work backwards to determine what time you need to wake up. Middle and high school children can sleep in later if school starts later. However, younger children usually need to wake up and start early.
For an easy school morning routine for young children, create a printable checklist of everything they need to do. Include things like brushing teeth, combing hair, eating breakfast, getting dressed, and helping make lunch.
And don’t forget your morning routine! I highly recommend waking up 30-45 minutes before your kids wake up. This will give you a comfortable start to the day or give you time to get some work done. My older kids and I wake up at sunrise to catch the morning light and set our circadian rhythms for the day. I never thought I could wake up that early, but I love the peaceful mornings!
If your family has been sleeping in late during the summer, start transitioning to an earlier wake-up time a few weeks before school starts. Wake up 15 minutes earlier every few days until you reach your target time. This will also help you adjust your bedtime (see Nighttime Routine section).
Decide on your after school routine
After school is a great time to reconnect with your kids and hear all about their school life. However, especially if your kids are involved in extracurricular activities and have limited free time, it can be helpful to have an after school routine to keep everything organized.
Provide a healthy snack after school, and take time to talk about and catch up on the day without stress. You can also help teach responsibility by unpacking backpacks or lunch boxes and clearing out your workspace (if you homeschool).
If your kids have homework to do, after school is a good time to schedule homework. Another thing you might want to include in your schedule after school is some unstructured free time or play time (even outside if possible!). If your kids are a little older, you can help them learn time management. Give them guidelines on what to do before extracurricular activities, and let them decide what to do and when to do it.
Create a bedtime routine
For young children, the nighttime routine is just as important as the morning routine. This is a good time to prepare everything they will need for the next day. Prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Let them choose their clothes. If they are participating in after-school activities or sports, keep all their clothes and equipment together. Leave their shoes and backpacks by the front door so you know where everything is when you leave.
As part of your nighttime routine, you’ll want to create screen time rules that help develop a healthy relationship with technology (if you’re looking at screens). Bath time is a great self-care routine that can be incorporated into your bedtime routine. Story time is a perfect way to end the night. Readers can have time to practice reading to their families.
Did your kids stay up late during the summer? Our kids often do, so when it’s time to get them back into bed early, start a few weeks early. Every few days, get them to bed 15 minutes earlier. By the time the new school year starts, they’ll be used to going to bed at their regular time.
Planning a meal
During the school year, time is a little tighter, especially if the kids are involved in extracurricular activities. I have a few kids who play sports, so I often drive to different track events in the afternoons! I like to plan my meals in advance so that everyone eats healthy and doesn’t rush at the last minute. We also stock our kitchen with real food because cooking and eating at home is a priority for us.
Family meals are so important, but it can be hard to do every night. I like to make sure we all eat breakfast together (and dinner too). I offer a variety of breakfast options to give the kids a choice. And because it’s so important to keep their energy levels up, there’s always protein at every meal. If you have older kids, work together to plan a lunch that’s free of processed foods. Even if you’re homeschooling, it’s a good idea to plan your lunches in advance (though you don’t have to pack a lunch).
me my meal plan For a few weeks or a month. I rotate my recipes and add new ones. I also do batch cooking on the weekends so there are always healthy options in the fridge. It helps me pack lunches and the kids have something to eat even when we aren’t all home together.
As part of our nightly routine, the kids and I prepare meals for the next day. It’s a great way for the kids to show off their cooking skills, and we get to spend time together.
Boost your immunity before you get sick
With school starting and more germs on the way, now is the time to boost your family’s immunity. This article details what I do. I like to focus on eating whole foods, a nutrient-dense diet (see meal plan), taking probiotics, and taking supplements.
Probiotics are very important for maximizing gut health and boosting immunity. The reason I take spore-based probiotics is because they survive in the digestive tract (unlike probiotics that need to be refrigerated). I also regularly serve fermented foods and drinks. They are easy to make at home!
Once school starts, kids are indoors more and get less vitamin D. I check my kids’ vitamin D levels and give them supplements if needed. I also keep vitamin C on hand in case they get sick sometimes. We do Epsom salt baths and magnesium sprays or foot lotions (this is a good one to incorporate into your nightly routine).
Buy all the items you need
Whether your kids are in school or homeschooled, you want to make sure they have all the supplies they need to succeed. I like to shop for supplies in late July when most stores have sales. It helps because they haven’t sold out yet.
Check with your child’s school to see what supplies they need. Don’t forget homework help at home. Set up a homework station so you have a place to finish your homework with all your school supplies.
If you are homeschooling, set up a classroom. Decide what homeschool resources you need based on your child’s age, class, and curriculum. We have a homeschool room, but if you can’t use the entire room, set up a school space in a quiet part of your home.
And don’t forget new clothes! Chances are your kids have outgrown their clothes over the summer (why do they grow so fast?) and will need new clothes. I like to buy sustainable clothes whenever possible. I also shop at thrift stores and online. Threadup To save money and the environment, we use capsule wardrobes, which makes it easier to minimize clothes (and laundry). It also reduces decision fatigue about what to wear, especially for young children.
Final thoughts on the return to school routine
Preparing for the transition to school early will help your family cope more smoothly with the change in routine. If you start planning early, you’ll have first-day-of-school photos taken before you know it, and you’ll be starting the new year with less stress and a calmer mind.
What is your favorite way to go back to school? How do you plan for a new year of learning?
