September has arrived and with it we dust off backpacks, cases, shoes ... But something that must also be sought is that the children adapt gradually to the new schedules of the school year, something that is not always easy. Especially when waking up ...
Because after an intense summer, in which the schedules relax, it's time to start getting up early, to spend many hours at school, where they end up tired, especially the first few days ...
Therefore, now that there are still a few days left before school starts in most communities, we can try to let the little ones lie down before and in this way it will not cost them so much to get up the next day. This is one of the main tips for returning to the classroom and although it is easy to say, we know that it is not always easy to get it ...
A good trick to get them to sleep before is to exercise in the afternoon: go for a walk, to swim, play in the park ... In this way, the quality of rest is also better and sleep is lengthened, until achieving a number of Optimal hours (which will vary according to the age of the children, approximately between 9 and 12 hours the smallest).
Personally, in September I would not recommend extracurricular activities (although most begin in October) because the child's schedule is overloaded after the summer. Better a progressive increase of the schedule than sudden. But this is not always possible, due to labor issues ...
Another tip would be plan school days, talking about when they will have to wake up to give time to get to school, backpack, lunch ... So the day before you can prepare everything together and the children will feel good to collaborate on it, without encountering any "surprise" that I can relocate them more.
If they have knowledge of what awaits them, if they collaborate when planning breakfast, lunch, clothes ... they will be safer and happier when fulfilling certain routines that all cost us. Let them talk, encourage them to communicate, to express their feelings.
Finally, if we try to modify the schedules of going to bed and waking up, this will influence as is logical in meal schedule, which also have to adapt without abruptness and gradually back to school. They will be more physically and mentally prepared, and the better the less nervous they are, as we will see below.
Nervous children with back to school
The night before the start of classes it may be inevitable that nerves affect the child. Therefore, we can expect them to get up a few times, to have a restless sleep ... To prevent or minimize this restlessness, follow the advice we have given earlier in regard to the evening exercise. Take the opportunity to read a story or do some activity that relaxes before bedtime (a bath, a massage ...).
Remember also that many children have anxiety with the start of school (especially those who go for the first time), about 30% of children are apathetic, anxious and irritable when they return to school. That is why it is important to accompany them, understand them if they are more nervous, talk to them about school, trying to highlight the positive (they will play, meet children ...), we can tell you funny anecdotes about when we were little ...
And it is that the motivation of the children is fundamental so that the attitude is positive, so that they feel better at the time of going to school, so that they spend the school day better ... although as it is logical to many it will cost the separation.
In this sense, our attitude is very important, because children immediately capture our mood, and although there is no need to lie to them if we are also demotivated towards going back to school or towards our own return to work, it is important to show a positive attitude, not make negative comments about the classes that they can scare them ...
Another point to note is that, as we try to "normalize" schedules, keep in mind that we will need enough time for breakfast, a very important meal for the little ones. One of the purposes we have to do is that no children go to school without breakfast.
Not surprisingly, the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN) notes that leaving home without breakfast affects school performance and favors childhood obesity. For children who eat breakfast a little after trying to offer them variety, go ahead ... you have to supplement that first meal of the day that is scarce with a good lunch.
All these tips will help children to be better prepared for the demands of the school period, their bodies more rested, more fit and little by little the schedules are rearranged and the return is not so hard.
And to you, Are you having trouble adjusting the schedules for the return to school? What are your tricks so that everything goes better? We hope that this important moment comes gradually and as calmly as possible for all ...
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In Babies and more | What do we do with the routines in summer? How many hours in school! Who has a worse time with going back to school?
