Back to School = Back to Routines & Schedules

by Amanda Merrill, Family & Kids

Summertime has been an adventure, full of camps and playdates. But this is the month that we start to get back into the routines of the school year as we plan our schedule full of sports and after-school activities.

For kids, there is comfort in a routine and schedule. Routines are tasks that are done frequently and keep consistency in a household. An example of a nightly routine for a child may be: brush teeth, take a bath, read a few books and then go to bed. A schedule on the other hand, looks a bit different. A weekly schedule may include soccer on Tuesday, library on Wednesday, dance on Thursday and a soccer game to play on Saturday.

Sharing the schedule and routine of the week with your children is important because they can start to predict the expectations and goals of the school week. Encouraging your children throughout the week to follow their routines and help plan their schedules will show kids that they are included in the process. Sharing positive thoughts and encouragement is important to show your children how grateful you are for them and all that they do.

Ideas for Your ROUTINES:

u Morning ideas: Brush hair, brush teeth, get dressed and then make bed.

u Afternoon ideas: Do homework, play outside and then eat dinner.

u Evening ideas: Brush teeth, put pajamas on, wash face, bath time and then book reading time.

u After dinner ideas: Help clear the table, put dishes in the dishwasher and sweep the floor.

u Weekend ideas: Make breakfast together, watch your favorite movie and order pizza on Friday night & Saturday is game night.

u Many schools require monthly book reading minutes, so seize the opportunity to routinely read each night before bed.

u Create a ‘routine’ calendar for the refrigerator, include chores such as putting toys away, brushing teeth, making bed etc.

u Check out library books and read all about routines.

u Every morning, listen to upbeat music before school.

u Set out backpacks, clothes and pack the kids’ lunches the night before a school day.

u Routinely talk with your children about their day.

u Create a reward spinner with all the possible rewards for a good job. Pizza day, movie night, camping inside night, Play-Doh, etc.

Ideas for Your SCHEDULES:

u Create a kids’ calendar for your kids to keep track of their school schedule and sports. Elementary-aged kids love tracking events and learning all about the calendar.

u Use markers to color coordinate your calendar, using a different color for each child. Have your children select stickers that show the task to be completed at that time of day.

u Schedule TV time during each week to be used as an incentive for good behavior.

u To practice using ‘time-telling’ skills, write out a schedule for each day of the week with the time listed for each activity.

Ideas for Scheduling APPS:

u Cozi is an organizer APP for families. It’s great for large families because you can color-code for each child to help keep up with their activities. Cozi even has an area to keep a shopping and to-do list.

u Greenlight is a scheduling APP for kids that allows parents to schedule chores and reward them with an allowance. Kids can choose to spend, save, invest or give their hard-earned money.

u Busy Kid is another great scheduling APP for kids. Chores and allowance can be put in their bank account from the APP.