How to Create a Stress-Free Afterschool Routine

We all want to help our children succeed, but do you ever wonder if you’re doing too much or too little? Are we guiding or pressuring? Encouraging or interfering? In an effort to avoid causing stress and anxiety, it’s important to create a positive, balanced environment at home so kids know they are supported, but have some independence. If you want to help kids do well in school, here are tips to create stress-free afternoons at home.

Establish a Routine

The familiarity of routine provides kids with a sense of security and comfort. When they come home from school, ease into the transition from school life to home life. Ask kids about their day and provide a healthy snack and opportunity to wind down. Consider enriching activities like an art or dance class, mindfulness activities or outdoor play before jumping into homework assignments.

Have a Set Time for Homework

Homework can be difficult at the best of times, especially when kids would prefer to play or relax. Having a set time for homework makes it easier to formulate a habit. Be consistent, with the understanding that sometimes life happens and the family has to deviate from the set plan. Be available to help, if needed. Sometimes kids get overwhelmed and anxious about getting answers wrong, when it’s more important to show the teacher that an attempt was made to figure it out.

Do your kids need help with homework? See our list of helpful apps and local tutoring services at www.sandiegofamily.com/resources/ education-directory/homework-helpapps-and-san-diego-tutoring-services.

Provide Access to Resources

Providing kids with the right resources encourages them to learn at home. There is an abundance of educational tools online that can help them brush up on skills and view concepts they learn at school in an interesting way. Visit your neighborhood library to find books about subjects they are learning in school. Consider visiting a local science or art museum on the weekend to enrich their educational experiences and understanding.

Wondering which family field trips support topics kids learn in school? First, know what they’re learning about; then read our article “Fun San Diego Learning Adventures” at www.sandiegofamily.com/thingsto-do/out-about/fun-educationalplaces-to-go-with-kids.

Check Your Attitude

As difficult as it may be sometimes, it is important to have a positive, non-pushy attitude towards your children’s learning experiences. You want to inspire and encourage; not pressure and nag. Nagging takes the fun out of it, and induces stress and anxiety. Use positive language about school, even when kids are struggling with a challenging subject or situation.

Ensure Kids Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep has a significant impact on how well kids do in school. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids ages 3–12 need about 10–12 hours of sleep each night.

Make sure they go to bed at a consistent time and have a comfortable sleep environment. That means shutting down electronics well before bedtime, making sure the bedroom is cool enough, and letting them sleep with their favorite stuffed animal or cozy blanket.

Want to know more about proper sleep for children? Read this article by Children’s Primary Care Medical Group: www.cpcmg.net/thebenefits-of-better-sleep-for-kids.

Never Compare

Don’t compare your kids to other children, especially siblings. Everyone develops at different rates. Comparison often has a detrimental effect on self-esteem, so be sure to focus on one child’s needs, characteristics and strengths at a time. v

Sandi Schwartz is a freelance journalist, mother of two, and the founder of the Ecohappiness Project, which has a mission to inspire and educate families to build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer.