Getting Ready for School and Creating a Back-to-School Routine
As summer winds down, it's a good time to think about making your child's return to school a bit smoother. One way parents can do this is by establishing a routine that focuses on simple and fun early literacy skills.
Getting Back into the School Groove
Heading back to school, whether it's a return or the first time, can bring a bunch of new stuff for your child. Even before the pandemic, kids were feeling more anxious about school. So now it's super important for parents, teachers, and caregivers to help out by connecting and setting up solid routines.
How Parents Can Help
Luckily, parents can make going back to school easier and help their child handle any stress. The CDC has some handy tips:
Stick to a regular daily routine with set times for meals, naps, and sleep.
Chat with other parents to get ideas for getting your child ready for school.
Talk to teachers to figure out how to drop off your child without any worries.
Stay cool and collected during the switch from summer to school. Keep calm to show your child that school is a safe place.
Building a Daily Plan
The CDC says there are three main things to keep in mind when setting up a routine with your child: consistency, predictability, and follow-through.
Consistency means you react the same way to what your child does. When you're consistent with rewards for good behavior and consequences for the not-so-good stuff, your child learns how to behave better.
Predictability helps your child know what comes next. When they know the routine, they'll get the hang of it. This makes it easier for them to follow rules and know what to expect.
Follow-through means you do what you say when it comes to your child's behavior. If they’re supposed to get a reward for being good, you've got to make sure they get it. This works for both good and not-so-good behavior.
Here's a routine example for a three-and-a-half-year-old:
Wake up around 6:20 a.m.
Out of bed by 6:30 a.m.
Potty time, get dressed, brush teeth by 6:50 a.m.
Grab breakfast or a snack on the go.
Pick up from daycare at 4:00 p.m.
Play from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dinner prep at 5:00 p.m., eat around 5:45 p.m.
Bath around 6:30 p.m.
Hang out, read, or do an activity around 7:00 p.m.
Potty, brush teeth, bedtime by 8:00 p.m.
Storytime, quiet time, asleep by 8:30 p.m.
Adding Reading to the Routine
Nighttime is a great time to read together. Spending around 30 minutes reading each night is a fantastic way to work on reading skills. But there's more you can do, too. Check out these tips from Reading is Fundamental:
Ask questions about the story and get your child to point out things in the pictures while reading. Help them learn to read by having books at home and visiting the library.
Letting them choose their own books is exciting and helps them want to read more.
Create a special reading spot at home that fits into your routine.
Talk to your child as you go about your day together. Having conversations – even short ones – really helps them learn.
Getting ready for school or daycare can be a bit overwhelming. By having a plan and sticking to it, you and your child can make the switch from summer to school smoother. Plus, sharing stories every night will not only create precious family moments but also help your child become a confident reader down the road.