Get Started Early to Get Kids to Bed Early
Like most parents, the most
challenging part of starting a new school year is the transition from a summer
schedule to a school schedule. During the summer, the kids stay up late
watching TV, and are pretty free to do what they want. However, after last year
when it took almost a month to get them on track, we have put together a
checklist of easy changes you can make to ensure a smooth start to the school
year.
The key is to give yourself
enough time to make the schedule change, and give your kids enough time to
adjust to new bedtimes and wake-up times.
Start early: Give yourself at least
two weeks to make these adjustments. It takes time for adults to adjust to a
new schedule, and it takes kids even longer.
Get up early: For the last two weeks
before school starts, set a wake-up time (and stick to it). You can make it
earlier by 15 minutes every few days to make the change gradual.
Get to bed on time: Like the wake-up time,
begin getting your kids to bed earlier. Make the transition easier (and save
yourself from some arguments) by letting them have a treat, but set
expectation. For example, let them read a book in bed for 10 minutes for two
nights, but each day remind them that the extra story time will be over on the
third day.
Get diet in check: Summer schedules not only
affect sleep times, they can affect meal times. Meals set the stage for
successful sleep. Prepare quality meals and begin to adjust the time of these
meals to the time they will be served during the school year. This includes not
only dinner, but serving lunches at the time lunch is served at school.
YOU CAN READ ALSO: For good night’s sleep : Sleeping Tips
Schedule activities: Keep your child active
during the day as you adjust sleep and meal times. It will make it easier to
get them to adjust to the new schedule. But be careful to reduce the activity
level so the kids are not hyper by dinner time.
Bonus tip: Depending on what part of
the country you live in, the sun may still be up late when school starts. Try
giving your child an inexpensive sleep blindfold or other “sleep transitional
object”. This recognizes that light may be a problem for your child, and gives
the child a way to be in control of their sleep.
To summarize, give yourself
enough time to adjust and address each area that has an impact on sleep for
children.
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