Back-to-school blues

The first couple weeks of school are pretty exciting with new teachers, new friends, and new classes. We are all pretty tired that first Friday after early-morning starts and afterschool activities. But, it’s not until about now that this new routine really starts setting in. And, it’s tiring! The early-starts that go against the teenage body, the homework and reading lists, and also making time for hobbies and family-time can leave parents and kids feeling stressed!

It’s tiring! The school systems around us that have moved to ‘year-round’ school (or we could more accurately call them ‘balanced calendars’) really have the right idea. For the teaching staff and the students, studies show that a balanced calendar is more effective. Regular, shorter breaks are good socially and academically. But, meanwhile most of us in Knox county are waiting for our week-long fall break. (And, thank goodness they changed that!).

In the meantime, we may need to be intentional about some simple routines that can help us get there. There are some simple habits that make our school year more manageable, our children less moody, and our lives just a little simpler. Now, this isn’t for everyone because there really are those families that like and function best when everyone’s hair is on fire. Living with the mentality that ‘busier is better’ works for some. I know families that thrive that way.  But, if it’s not working for your family (and you’re like our family), take a few minutes to think about you want this fall to look like.

How can we combat those back to school blues?

• Make sleep a priority. For your children and for yourself, everyone functions best when they’ve had their optimal sleep. Some of us, like my son and myself, need more than the average recommendation. Make it happen when you can! When you have a late night, go to bed earlier the next night.

• Be aware of your child’s homework and assignments. And, help them plan and space out school work. Waiting until the last minute to do large assignments and study stresses everyone out. Plan ahead. In our house, we do homework after school. Waiting until bedtime when everyone is tired is less ideal.

• If you’re unsure about how your child is doing socially, emotionally, or academically, ask the teacher! Just send an email. Don’t go into the classroom unannounced. And more than likely, you don’t even have to schedule a formal appointment. Email them first. And, call if you need clarification. Communicating with the teacher is welcomed if you respect their time and opinion!
• Have expectations and rules for your child’s electronic time. The biggest time-suck is electronics. Kids are addicted to Youtube, Fortnite, and their Playstations! It can really throw your school year off-balance if the right priorities aren’t set. Having rules about electronics can alleviate unnecessary arguments and lost time! Just set limits and be the parent.

• Plan activities for your child with friends. It can be a simple one-hour playdate after school. Friendships make everything better and sometimes your child will need help scheduling that time.
• Reward and praise hard work. School is not easy; it’s intense. We can help our children when we acknowledge that and remind ourselves that they’re still learning. Instead of expecting perfection, praise for effort.

• If school isn’t their ‘thing’, find an activity that it. A sport, an art class, or even cooking dinner or playing with the dog, find an activity that your child feels happy while doing.
• Make Fridays a fun day! With my kids, we have always made Fridays ‘treat day’. Assuming they had a good week, going somewhere for a fun treat on Friday afternoons is a fun way to kick off the weekend! Or, maybe it’s doing something fun and different at the end of the week!

While fall break isn’t quite upon us yet, we can make this fall more manageable or even more enjoyable if we are balanced. As parents, be aware that routines help children excel. We all know friend-time and also time to decompress help keep us happy! While we are getting into the meat of the school year, take a moment to reflect upon what’s gone right so far and talk about goals for this semester. If we as parents stay positive and make effort to prioritize healthy choices, we can soar through this school year!