Start your school routine now

Getting back into the school routine can be a challenge for everyone in the family. To make adjusting to the new routine easier, start early and ease into it. It's important to let your child’s mind and body prepare for the big shift.
Here are some tips:
A few weeks before school starts, move bedtime back to an earlier time.
It’s easy during the lazy days of summer to slip into having meals at irregular hours. As the first day of school approaches, make meal times more regular and aligned with the school year schedule.
Put a positive spin on going back to school. Talk about the fun things your child will be learning, the old friends she’ll see, and the new friends she’ll make.
If your child is anxious about starting the next grade, reassure him that other children have these feelings too.
Don’t make plans for big trips right before the start of school.
Establish weekday schedules for homework, TV, baths, and bedtime.
Arrange playdates with friends from school to re-establish connections that may have been dropped for the summer, or to create new ones.
Confirm your after-school care arrangements. Most are made months ahead, but as the school year approaches, it’s a good idea to confirm your plans.
Make sure your child knows where she is going after school.
Double-check on your care plans and communicate with the provider a few days before school starts.
If your child will be home alone after school, establish safety rules for locking doors and windows, and for answering the door and the telephone. Make sure he knows to check in with you or another adult when he arrives home.

Wind down the screen time

It’s tempting, especially during the summer, to let kids watch a lot of television and stare at their screens. If that's the case, start to put limits on screen time:
Be firm: Set limits of no more than an hour or two of TV daily.
Set a good example by not watching a lot of TV yourself.
Engage in family activities such as reading or board games.
Keep TVs out of your child’s bedroom to limit temptation.
Encourage selective TV viewing. Discourage channel surfing, which encourages passive viewing.
Choose wisely. Some TV programs can be a valuable tool for learning.
Source: GreatSchools.org, an independent nonprofit that helps millions of parents find great schools, support great learning, and guide their kids to great futures. Its award-winning website includes profiles of 200,000 public, public charter, and private schools, more than one million school reviews by parents, teachers, and students, and thousands of articles, videos, and worksheets to help parents support their children's learning.