As Newark families prepare for the return to school in September, the transition from summer break can be difficult for parents, caregivers, and kids. It is important for adults to get an efficient routine in place so that students can adjust back to their regime and stay engaged throughout the school year. Effective planning will help families handle the back-to-school transition with much less stress.

Develop a routine

During summer break, routines might have been lax or not in place. Remember, no routine is also a routine! Setting a schedule for your family will help everyone get back into the swing of things and have an idea of what’s on the agenda for the day. Setting designated times for meals, learning, breaks, homework, extracurricular activities, decompression, and bedtime will help reduce stress and improve everyone’s well-being. Creating visual schedules is also engaging for students and gives them something to look forward to. An organized plan for the week will help structure your family’s day-to-day life and give children an idea of what to expect for the days ahead.

Incorporate your child into the routine

Involving your child in schedule planning can make them feel a sense of empowerment; encourage them to help brainstorm weekend learning activities or fun lunch ideas. Discuss with your child to figure out what parts of their day are more challenging and what they might need more time for. Asking questions like how much time they need to get ready, what academic subjects they think they will need the most support with, and what new goals they have for the school year will help ensure that you can accommodate their needs. Consider allowing kids to pick up a new responsibility or extracurricular activity that interests them and inspires independence.

Practice makes perfect

Practicing the routine you created a week or two before school starts will help your family ease back into a more demanding day-to-day schedule. This will allow your child to get readjusted to jam-packed days with set goals and planned activities. Slowly easing children back into their schedule is a great way to make them less anxious about the return to a full school day.

Dedicating time to schedule-planning and incorporating your child’s needs is a great foundation to start planning a routine for the school year. Establishing a daily pattern can help bring structure, organization, and positive outcomes to any household. Your learner will be able to thrive with the added sense of predictability and normalcy that a consistent schedule brings. Going back to school doesn’t have to be daunting when a fun plan is in place!