Changes in routine can be hard for both kids and adults. How can you make this time of year easier for your whole family?
It’s normal for stress, worry, or frustration to surface when routines change, especially at the start of a new school year. Here are a four ways to help your family adjust:
- Shift your schedule in advance. If you know a change is coming – like an earlier wake up time – it can help to gradually shift your schedule to line up with the new routine. This gives your body and mind time to adapt to the change.
- Prepare the night before. Prep anything you’ll need for your morning, like your clothes, lunches, and backpacks, the night before. This makes them easy to find when it’s time to head out the door.
- Preview what’s ahead. Talk through new routines, new schedules, or new places with children. Share what you know will happen and what might be unexpected. Knowing what to expect can make children feel less anxious about new situations.
- Validate everyone’s feelings. Acknowledge your own feelings and your children’s feelings around change. Naming what you’re feeling and why can help make the emotions more manageable.
Finally, remember that stress during a big transition is normal and temporary. With patience and time, your family will find a new rhythm.
