Kids & Company Blog

Reestablishing Routines: 5 Tips for a Smooth Transition

 

As we transition from hot summer days to our regularly scheduled programming, it is only natural to feel a mix of excitement and apprehension as we get back to regular routines. Here are our top 5 tips to help ease that transition for the whole family.  

 

1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep 

Being well-rested helps set us up for success, and this is true for both parents and children alike.  Sleep affects both physical and mental functioning, helping to reduce stress and improve  moods. The things that help with infant sleep also help in adulthood - a quiet dark room, consistent sleep schedule, and limited distractions/technology. If your children are staying up past their usual bedtimes during the summer, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night to gradually get back to normal, reimplementing reading/songs/bath or other routine elements that might have fallen to the wayside. For more tips and tricks related to child sleep habits you can find a recording, here, of our previous Kidco Talk: Healthy Ways to Restore Sleep Routines with Alana Metallo, Certified Sleep Consultant at MetaSleep. In this Kidco Talk, Alana provided valuable insights and practical tips to ensure a smooth and well-rested transition into the upcoming season. Families can book a complimentary discovery call with Alana by clicking here.

2.   Be Prepared and Organized

If you want to swap the hustle of getting dressed, fed, and out the door in the morning for a more calm and organized routine – then preparation the night before is key.. Try laying out clothes, backpacks, and water bottles the night before so that you have everything ready in advance. Asking your children to choose between pre-approved outfits or shoes, can help them feel empowered and part of the process. Labeling items will keep you more organized if you have multiple children, and also ensure clothing doesn’t get lost. Our friends and labeling experts, Mabel’s Labels, are offering Kidco families 25% off their Ultimate Back-to-School Combo with code KIDCOBTS, for a limited time, until August 31st. Enjoy!

3.   Quick and Easy Breakfasts

This can make all the difference in setting up your day - a wild and disorganized breakfast will derail the best laid plans. For an easy breakfast the whole family can enjoy, try smoothies, They’re quick, easy, and packed with nutrients! You can prepare all of the ingredients the night before and quickly blend everything in the morning. Here’s a Pineapple Whip Smoothie recipe, one of our favorites from our Kidco Kitchen. 

4.       Keep Some Elements of Your Current Routine

Summertime often means frequent outdoor play as a family. That routine doesn’t have to end with Fall!  Take some time out each day for play. Kidco at Home, our family resource portal, has hundreds of ideas of activities you can do at home with your children. One of our favorite outdoor activities is going on a nature walk. Encourage your child to take the opportunity to collect items like rocks, twigs, leaves etc., and engage in some fun learning activities, such as painting the items.

5.       Have Patience and Grace

Transitioning back to regular routines might not happen overnight, and that's perfectly okay. It's natural to encounter challenges along the way, but remember that every small step counts. Give yourself and your family grace as you all work through it together. It’s okay for your children to see you struggling. A ‘this feels hard’ or ‘we can do hard things’ coming from Mom or Dad can do a lot to reassure a child who might be having similar feelings.

Posted on: Tuesday August 22nd, 2023

Posted by: Kids & Company