Confetti, hats, crazy glasses, and balls dropping. That’s what many of us picture when we think of the new year. But the reality is, for those of us with kids, the new year begins when school starts.
August (or September, depending on where you live) means new crayons, pencils, and backpacks. It means new classes, new friends, and new schedules. Gone are the lazy days of summer when you didn’t have to enforce bed times, kids sometimes didn’t take a bath before bed, and dinner happened at odd times. Soon our calendar will fill up with sports practices, birthday parties, PTO meetings, and other school events.
As your kids start back to school, here’s a few things to keep in mind.
- Kids really do thrive with a set schedule. They need the consistency that a set bedtime provides. Their behavior improves when they know what the expectations are and what’s coming next. For some of us, this comes naturally. To you, I would encourage you to allow room for some spontaneity in the schedule. Every once in a while you may need to throw the rules out the window to create memories. For others, schedules seem like a burden. For you, routine may be more important than schedule. Setting daily routines such as bath time, then story time, followed by bed time help kids to know what’s happening next without burdening anyone with the time spent doing each activity.
- Kids need down time. We’re so concerned that our kids get every opportunity to succeed and experience all that life has to offer, that we schedule every minute of their day. From school to after-school activities, to sports practice, to play dates – our kids are busier than they’ve ever been before. They need to decompress and participate in un-structured play time. Ideally, they would have some time each day just to play…….not to practice, not to be coached, not to participate in a pre-determined activity, just to play. I know that we don’t live in ideal worlds, so at the very least, plan some time once or twice a week to allow your child to just play.
- Perfection doesn’t exist. A quick look through Instagram or Facebook may show you pictures of perfect kids and perfect parents captured at the perfect moment. But remember that these moments are the highlights, not the norm. If those parents were completely honest, they might tell you about the temper tantrum that happened right before that picture was snapped. They might tell you about the argument they had on the way home from that picture perfect outing. Social media gives a false impression of other families and can make us feel like we’re failing. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else! God put your family together for a very specific reason. So next time you see that perfect family picture, think about what you’re not seeing outside of the frame.
- Kids need you. Between teachers at school and church, and coaches at practice, there are lots of adults pouring into your child’s life. And sometimes it can feel like you’re not as important as they are. But none of those adults can give your child what you can. Make sure you’re not just coordinating their life, but are investing in it. Teachers, coaches, and music teachers will all come and go. You are the most important adult in your child’s life!
Michelle Suarez 