Hi Butter Lovers!
Summer is almost over! It’s time to get in that last-minute vacay, stay-cay, or beach day before we go back to adulting full time!
What did everyone do this summer? Go on any interesting trips? Travel abroad? Chill at the beach? Let me know what you got into in the comments below.
With summer winding down some of us are thinking about back-to-school. If you’re among the lucky ones, and you’re dreading it, here are 4 tips I used to get the kids back on track painlessly.
Let them know what’s coming!
At first, bedtime was a battle for me and mine. People whining about going to bed. Walking around in circles instead of going to bed. Everything else was suddenly more important than what? Going to bed. Fun stuff. Then I started doing this. About 2 weeks before school starts have a little meeting with the kiddos. I’d let them know the late nights were fun, but it’s come to an end. It’s back to the regular routine. Getting a sleep schedule established before the first day back helps to reinforce the habit and resets their internal clocks gradually. Now keep in mind that these are small people with free will. That said, reminders will be required. But if done consistently, when school starts they’re used to the new rest/rise routine. Pro tip: If your children are older let them negotiate a reasonable bedtime with the condition that if it doesn’t work out it will be revisited.
Give them time to wake up!
The flip side of going to bed early is, of course, getting up early. For me, the worst feeling in the world is oversleeping and then rushing to get out the door. I imagine it feels the same for kids, too. Instead of choosing violence, try waking the kids about 15 minutes before they have to get up. This gives them a chance to hit snooze a couple of times before their feet have to hit the floor.
As a parent, I know I need a few minutes of quiet time in the morning so I can wake up, reflect, and reset. Giving myself this time helps me to calmly deal with all the moping, whining, and complaining that accompanies the beeping alarm clock.
POV: Talk about the social aspect!
There are a lot of back-to-school prep articles that address social anxiety in children and the symptoms to watch for. But having an honest conversation about anticipated interactions might reveal why your child is feeling anxious about going back to school. Start by talking about the people they are excited to see again. Then talk about the people they’re not excited to see and why. Let them make their points without judgment and ask questions that help them figure out the best way to handle difficult situations. These are valuable bonding moments that help to build confidence and empathy. You might discover how resilient your kids are in the process.
Remember, less is more…time together!
I know everyone is involved in some after-school activity, but remember, there are only 24 hours in a day and 8 of them are spent in class. If kids need at least 8 hours of sleep, that only leaves 8 hours for everything else including homework, and you! Keep this in mind when signing those extracurricular permission forms. Explain to your children the importance of balance in all things and encourage them to leave some time for family game/movie night!
And there you have it! If you try any of these tips let me know how they worked (or didn’t work) in the comments!
Happy Birthday to all of our August Butter Lovers!
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Go to www.butterbathnbody.com>My Account>Rewards to stack coins and save!
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Enjoy the rest of the summer, Butter Lovers! Talk to you soon!
Huggz!