Sorry to get all real-world on you but it’s almost time for Back to School. The up-side: your days of having kids run through the house screaming from sun-up to sun-down or coordinating crazy camp drop-off and pick-up schedules that change every week are numbered. The down-side: it’s almost time to start back to a normal school year routine. You know, actual bed-times and wake-times, clothes that match, hair that’s been brushed. Structured routines may be a pain to set up but, once in place, really will help the school year go smoother. It can be helpful to review the routines in place to make sure they’re working for everyone so set a reminder in your calendar the first Sunday of every month to have a family meeting to discuss. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Sleeping: Face it – you’re all exhausted. Summer sleep schedules are bananas, you’ve been traveling (with kids), and it’s crazy hot. The last problem won’t change come August (or September or October…) but you can improve everyone’s attitudes and energy levels just by implementing a more normal sleep-wake schedule for you and the kids. Start gradually working on earlier bed and wake times now so you’ll all be in the habit by the time school starts. Backing up in 15 minute increments tends to work well. For example, if they kids are sleeping in until 10:30 a.m. now, wake them at 10:15 for a few days, then 10:00, 9:45, 9:30, etc. On the other end, start the bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier every few days until they’re eventually in bed on time a few days before school starts. Ensure that your child’s bed and wake times during the school year allow the recommended amount of sleep per night by checking out this handy chart from the National Sleep Foundation. Most elementary school-aged kids need 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night but some may require a bit less or more. If your child is hard to wake up in the morning, she’s probably not getting enough rest or the sleep is of poor quality. Although it can be tempting to let kids go to bed late or sleep in on the weekends, that practice could cause problems. If your child’s normal bedtime is 8:00 and he usually wakes up at 6:00, shifting to 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekends should be fine but don’t allow a lot more wiggle room.
Eating: If meals have been a little loose (e.g., a handful of grapes and some Cheetos) this summer, it’s time to get things back on track. Skipping breakfast may have worked fine when your kids slept until noon but won’t work once they’re out the door by 7:15 a.m. Plan on three meals a day plus two healthy snacks. Once school starts back, most kids are hungry when they get home so get something in their systems before they go play or start homework. If your child has afterschool activities, keep some fruit and water in the car for on-the-go snacking.
Moving: If your kid has preferred spending the summer inside to avoid the heat: A) Right there with you, sister. But also: B) Exercise is a must, even in summer (blah!). Most kids will get P.E. and recess during the school day but sometimes all that together doesn’t add up to the recommended 60+ minutes of physical activity. If possible, plan for 30 minutes of outside time at home either before school if your child’s an early riser or right after school before homework time.
Playing: Your kiddos probably have several after-school activities that keep them active and engaged, which is great. However, they also need totally unstructured, mindless free time in their daily schedules. Screen-free, ideally. Try to find pockets in the day where your kid isn’t expected to be anywhere doing anything in particular and just let him figure something out. Denise Pope, Stanford University professor and co-author of the book Overloaded and Unprepared, recommends that kids get playtime, downtime, and family time, or “PDF,” every day. A good rule of thumb is to try and make sure the time spent on PDF roughly equals the time spent in structured extracurriculars (e.g., soccer, piano, etc.). Tough to do if your kid is overscheduled so prioritize and don’t try to do everything all at once.
Working: Make homework time less chaotic by creating a quiet space for homework completion and stock it with pencils, paper, etc. Prioritize keeping this space cleared of clutter to reduce stress and make it easier for your kids to find what they need. If possible, start homework at a consistent time every day. As a general rule, homework time should last 10 minutes per grade with 1st graders having 10 minutes of work, 2nd graders having 20 minutes, etc. If homework is taking significantly more time, check with your child’s teacher to figure out what’s going on. It can be really problematic for kids to lose sleep or playtime in order to complete homework so problem-solve how to get it all done in a reasonable time frame.
What tips do you have for getting your kids ready for their Back To School?
About Kristen:
Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages ten and four, and seven-year-old son.
It’s time to save on Back To School! This weekend, beginning Friday, July 21st at 12:01 am (CST) and running through midnight, Sunday, July 23rd, shoppers can save on back to school needs. Here’s a list of some of the items that will be tax exempt. A complete list of what is included and what is not included can be found on the
As part of our ongoing efforts to provide inclusive opportunities to all members of the community, the Education Department at the Birmingham Zoo and 
Trowels, dirt and watering cans are usually pretty irresistible to kindergarteners, but let’s not overlook their learning benefits as well: digging strengthens children’s hands and wrists for the small motor tasks that they need to do in school.
down the beach. This was one of our favorite things we did, it was a great way to get a little exercise and explore the island. With about 25 miles worth of trails, you can enjoy scenery along the beach, through the forests or both.
OPEN: Breakfast & Lunch Monday through Saturday from 7:00 am – 2: 00 pm. The bar and market are open until 7:00 pm. To-Go Meal Kits are available for Dinner.
Located in the former location of Which Wich?, Market Table is a welcome addition to the Homewood Restaurant scene. Part market, part café, part bar – something for everyone! Many of the ingredients for their café are available in the market so you can create the meals at home. For breakfast, enjoy croissants breakfast bowls, or a la carte eggs, bacon, grits, fruit, or veggies. I’ll be back for a prosciutto croissant with goat cheese and arugula with a side berry parfait. Lunch offerings include soup, salad, and sandwiches. I ordered the Smoky Pimento Cheese sandwich with a side salad, which was delicious and a perfect lunch-sized portion. Next time, I want to try the Witt Farm Strawberry salad with arugula, feta, and mint. If you need a little meat midday, try the Southeastern Family Farms Ham sandwich served with brie, arugula, and peach chutney aioli (I’m a sucker for anything with aioli…). You can also add bacon, chicken, shrimp, or salmon to any sandwich.
We’re just a few days away from the Hanna Andersson Grand Opening at the Summit – In addition to some fun grand opening festivities, they’ll be hosting a Summer Reading Series for families!
I love the idea of dating my kids. Honestly it’s not something I do near enough, but find it to be a special time that allows them some one on one attention, that is so very important and rare in our hectic schedules. My goal is to try and schedule at least 1 one-on-one night/afternoon with each kiddo, each month. It doesn’t have to be elaborate and sometimes just grabbing a scoop of ice cream can help get you some quick quality time together. Here are some ideas for your next date with the tiny humans!
