Even after a couple of weeks, making the transition from vacation to school day may still seem a little rough, according to officials.
“Between early mornings, practices, clubs and homework, it’s easy for both parents and students to feel overwhelmed,” according to a news release.
Brittney Schrick is a family life specialist at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Schrick gives tips on how to make the transition easier.
• Prep the night before. Completing tasks the night before, like signing forms and packing lunches, can save time, energy and stress in the morning.
“Do anything you can to streamline the process of getting ready in the morning,” Schrick said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Get enough rest. Schrick suggested going to bed a little early to make sure everyone is well rested to tackle the day ahead. This is especially important for teens.
“They can’t stay up until the wee hours of the morning and still function at 100 percent,” Schrick said.
• Give everyone a responsibility. She recommended establishing a morning routine for everyone so each person is responsible for making sure they are ready in the morning. Schrick said that visuals and charts can be helpful in creating these routines.
“Parents may feel the need to keep their thumb on a child in the morning, but it may actually be counterproductive,” Schrick said. “For pre-readers, putting pictures on a magnet board or Velcro that they move from one side to another when they have completed the tasks such as dressing, brushing teeth, packing backpack, etc., can help them work through a routine on their own without constant reminders from parents.”
• Avoid overscheduling. While after-school activities have many benefits, each extracurricular item means after-school meetings, practices and events to attend. If there are multiple children in a family, those obligations can grow out of hand quickly, making it necessary to put a cap on how many activities the family does.
“Kids and parents need time to recharge, and if your family is constantly going from one thing to the next, that recharge and connection time doesn’t happen consistently,” Schrick said. “Saying ‘no’ is necessary at times.”
• Remove distractions during homework time. If the child is watching TV or in the same room as younger siblings without homework, they can become distracted and not do as well on their assignment.
“Make sure they do homework in an environment that is set up for success,” Schrick said.
Details: https://www.uaex.edu/health-living/personal-family-well-being/family-life-fridays-blog/.
— Emily Thompson is with the U of A System Division of Agriculture.