Even if it’s technically still beach season, fall—and back-to-school time—arrive faster than you know it. It’s might not time to put away the sunscreen and goggles yet, but it is time to start preparing yourself and your child for the inevitable shift into the fall. By taking a few steps now, you can set your family up for an easier and hopefully more enjoyable transition.
1. Routine Adjustments
Whether you made a summer rhythm or just flew by the seat of your pants for 3 months, back-to-school season is the time to start reining in the chaos.
Sleep
Sleep is often one of the ways parents are more lax during the summer. It’s fun to stay up late and watch fireflies when there’s nowhere to rush off to in the morning. A week before school starts, begin rolling back bedtime for the night owls in the family and moving the wake-up calls gradually closer to the ideal fall time.
Screens
If your kids have had unlimited (or less limited) access to screens over the summer, this is a good time to make gradual reductions to avoid the shock of going cold turkey once school bells are ringing.
Take stock of these and whatever else is going on in your household, and consider how you want to make adjustments for the fall. If you have regular child care this summer, include those adults as well so everyone’s working towards the same goal.
2. Do Your Future Self A Favor
Take a moment to identify your biggest fall pain points. By naming problem areas, you can start working on a plan to relieve the stress now. Your future self will love you!
- Is the morning rush a nightmare of shouting and arguing? Perhaps you can hire a before-school sitter to help get kids ready and to school on time. Or get up 15 minutes early to enjoy your coffee in peace and quiet to ground yourself for a calmer morning.
- Is your tot only in half-day preschool? Afternoon nannies can cover the child care gap while parents work. Or if child care isn’t an option, prepare an afternoon activity during preschool hours so you’re ready to roll when your little one’s back at home.
- Do you dread the after-school activities carpool chaos? Try outsourcing the carpooling to a teammate’s parent or hire an after-school caregiver to help out.
- Does the nightly homework battle make you want to run for the hills? Check your local library for homework help services (usually offered for free) or consider hiring a homework help sitter who can double as a tutor to help your child with homework and school projects.
- Is weeknight dinner the bane of your existence? Set up a meal swap with a neighbor or school friend. An after-school sitter can cover child care needs and alleviate the stress of getting dinner on the table by helping with meal prep.
3. Talk About It
Changing seasons brings up a lot of big feelings for both adults and kids. Whether you’re sad, glad, or somewhere in between about the end of summer, naming your feelings and processing them together can ease tensions and build emotional intelligence. If you have child care providers in the waning weeks of summer, include them in the conversations as well. Nannies and sitters are trusted adults in your child’s network that your kid can turn to. Here are some prompts to guide conversations.
- This summer, I’m so glad we got to ___.
- I’m feeling worried about ___.
- I’m looking forward to ___ when we go back to school.
Even if your kiddo is reluctant to share or name their own feelings, there is value in them seeing you model these behaviors. Further, bookending the worries with two positive prompts gives children the opportunity to articulate their nervousness, but ends the discussion on a hopeful note.
4. Celebrate Summer
Mark the end of summer with a celebration. Before you panic at the thought of adding one more thing to the back-to-school to-do list, you get to decide how to celebrate. Name it a celebration and have fun with it. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Go big and make it one last epic beach day. Load up all the friends, snacks, and beach toys, and stay until sunset.
- Round up the neighborhood for a block party barbecue with all your fave summer foods. Let the kids run wild and stay up until the fireflies come out.
- Make it a simple tradition like a small park picnic for dinner with just your family. Talk about all of the happy times that were had this summer.
- Gather on the front porch after dinner and eat popsicles while you start a list of must-do’s for next summer.
Think of it like a closing ceremony, of sorts, for the season. If your summer included a summer-only child care provider, invite them to celebrate with you as a way of saying thank you and giving your child closure on that relationship. Even if your sitter will stay on into the fall, including them in the end-of-season celebration is fun and further solidifies their relationship with your family.
Transitioning to new schedules, new classrooms, and new seasons can be a stressful time for families. While children are resilient, these periods of upheaval can result in extra stress, behavioral issues, and added exhaustion as everyone attempts to navigate change. By taking a bit of time now to make minor adjustments, prepare for future pain points, talk through big feelings, and express gratitude for the good times, your family can ease the tension and create a more positive flow into the new school year.
