Back to School Without the Headache

For some of you, the return to school comes with an overwhelming sense of dread. Maybe you have teenagers who have been enjoying late bedtimes and even later times waking up. Or it could be that homework is a never-ending battle, as the lure of social media, video games, or sports demands attention. Or it could be something as simple as lunch. Packing lunches is always a last-minute dash.
And, how can you get your kids to eat healthy? As back to school season hits yet again, take time to get organized and create a few simple routines to make your life easier.

Creating a School Routine

The first step is to get into a routine. This will not only relieve tension and conflict as battles over getting ready, doing homework, and arguments about eating certain foods for lunch are reduced, but also creating routines benefits your children’s organizational development, improves relationship
between yourself and your children, and gives them what they need to grow and learn at school. Routines help children feel safe and loved, reducing anxiety and frustration.

Getting organized and back into the groove of school can feel overwhelming. There are so many
ideas, tips, and strategies for creating a great school routine. Focusing on a few areas will give you and your kids the best chance for success, especially in the long term. Use a chart to track progress, give rewards to positively reinforce the routines you put in place. Think through a few natural consequences that will also help to make the routines stick.

Here Are Our Suggestions for a Few Small Changes That Can Make a Big Difference

Begin the Night Before

One of the most important steps you can take for a school routine is to begin the night before. The hectic start of the day can become stress-free with just a few steps. Pick out outfits for the next
day. Check homework assignments. Pack backpacks. Prepare what you can for lunches and select everything that will be in tomorrow’s lunches. Think through and talk about the events and activities for the next day. This will help you and your kids prepare everything needed and lower the risk of forgetting something in the rush of the morning. This can also help with addressing and relieving any anxieties or issues that you or your children are anticipating for the next day. Taking these steps may
feel unnecessary, but spending some time after dinner getting organized can help you sleep better and give you a better start to each day.

Pack a Yummy, but Healthy Lunch

School lunches can feel daunting on several different levels. It may seem impossible to find the time to
pack lunches for you children. Or maybe your children consistently come home having only eaten the dessert and snacks that you packed, leaving the veggies untouched. Yet you know that eating a healthy, well-balanced meal is crucial for your child’s learning and development. Studies show that nutrition can directly impact academic achievement. And certain disorders and conditions benefit from a diet packed with whole grains, fruits, and veggies.

Here are a few tips to make packing a healthy lunch easy, attainable, while also making a lunch that your children will actually eat.

1. Pack the lunches the night before, or at least choose what will be in your lunch the night before. This will reduce the morning hassle and sleepy arguments over what to include.
2. Give your children choice. Allowing your children to choose between two options for lunch
   will make them much more likely to eat what is in their lunch boxes. You can even have them pack their own lunches to create even more ownership over what’s in their lunches.
3. Try including snacks that have nutritional benefit and are low in sugar and sodium. Homemade
   granola bars and energy balls are often easy-to-make, delicious, and packed with nutrients.
4. Create a list of easy ingredients that you can mix and match to add diversity to your lunch options. Try to follow this healthy meal formula: 1 protein+1-2 fruits+1-2 veggies + 1 dairy + 1 snack + 1 small sweet.
5. Use whole grain bread and wraps. This is a simple way to add vitamins, minerals, and fiber to your children’s lunches.
6. Plan and prepare ahead of time. On less busy days, prepare batches of protein, whole grain, and veggies. Having containers of already prepared brown rice, veggies strips, and cooked chicken breast will make packing lunches a breeze.

Organize Your Entry Way

Part of the morning madness often involves a panicked search for misplaced items and homework.
Maybe it’s a shoe that has disappeared. Or homework. Or even a backpack. Tempers may flare and anxieties heighten as the time slips away in the search for the missing items.

Save yourself and your children the headache and hassle, and organize your entryway. Designate areas and bins for shoes, coats, backpacks, sports equipment, keys, hats, and mittens.

To help develop this routine, consider displaying a picture of what the space should look like. This may be especially helpful for younger children, children with ADHD, or children who struggle with organization.

Homework Environment

As you get ready to head back to school, don’t forget that your child needs a space for homework.
Whether it’s the dining room table or a desk in another part of the house, be sure your kids have the space to get their work done. Your child may thrive studying solo or perhaps being around others is more helpful for getting things done. Wherever you locate their designated study spot, be sure of these factors.

1. Make the homework spot free of clutter. For most, clutter can be stressful and contribute to a lack of focus. A clean table or desk promotes focus and calm, allowing your child’s brain to learn and grow as they do their homework.
2. Keep screens and other distractions out of the picture. Having the TV on the background will not
   help focus. If your child would like something in the background, put on some music, especially calm, instrumental music. Similarly, having a phone nearby that is constantly buzzing or offering distractions and more entertaining activities will not aid concentration and focus.
3. Keep the area well stocked with pencils, highlighters, scratch paper, calculators, and whatever else your child consistently needs for studying.
4. Have a consistent time and routine. Maybe your child benefits from a break and a chance to unwind from school before taking on homework. Or maybe working until everything is finished
   before having the reward of a break works better for your home. Whatever the case may be, try to be consistent, so expectations are clear.

Taking a few simple steps to organize your life will make back to school a less stressful and difficult time of year. You and your kids will benefit from taking the time to put some structure and routine into your life.