Staying Focused and Organized as the Kids Head Back to School

The kids are headed back to school and it’s time to begin early bedtime routines, homework, and sports activities. We have a few suggestions on how to make this transition easier as it can be difficult to change routines such as sleeping in, going to the pool and hanging with friends.

A suggestion is to start a week before school (or at least 4-5 days) with earlier bedtimes and wakeup calls so its not such a shock on the first night of school.  Purchase school supplies ahead of time and separate per class as much as possible (especially for the older kids).  I think the more organized you can be will help with any apprehension or anxiety your child may have with the first day of school approaching.

Once school starts make a few guidelines on homework. Homework first has always been a good priority in our house.  Right after school and their snack is the best time and it helps to avoid staying up late to finish it.  Find a quiet place for your child to do homework with the TV and other distractions turned off  to help them “get in the homework zone.”

Try to clear your schedule to be available to help with homework, projects or studying, it helps the children just by knowing you are there if they need assistance.  I find that my youngest child (8 years) needs me to help him and go over his work while my oldest son (12 years) needs more monitoring than assistance with homework.  I ask questions of my oldest to ensure he has finished his assignments and checked his agenda for things he may have missed.  Developing good study habits and reviewing for tests several nights before the test helps with cramming the night before the exam.  Making note cards for exams helps in our house as well.

Some forethought on our part can go a long way in keeping our children calm and organized as they head back to school. The more we help direct them to a steady routine and to stay organized helps with less household chaos and anxiety in our children and family. Best of luck!

 

You will also see the majority of this article in North Fulton Family Life magazine July 2014. AMO is a proud writer for the publication.