I remember when both Suzzane and Charlie was little and Summer was coming to a end. I would have to try and get them back on a school sleep schedule. Suzzane never gave me any problems.
Charlie was different his friends stayed out later so he thought he should be able to as well but getting him up in the mornings when he attended Public School was hard. For my family of the biggest adjustments when a new school year begins is getting everyone back into a routine
Most of the time David was working during the days but he went to work before we climbed out of bed. So getting Charlie up for school always feel on me. There was so many times I wished David was home but I’m not sure if that would have been better or worse.
During the summer months, many families like mine enjoyed later evenings, sleeping in a little longer, vacations, movie nights, and a more relaxed schedule. Those memories are wonderful, but when school starts, early mornings come quickly.
A few small changes before the first day can help make the transition easier for children and parents. Before you say Charlie isn’t in school so why would you be sharing this tips with us. While my own son has graduated from high school, I still see families preparing for these changes through my nieces, nephews, and the children and families David and I have been blessed to encourage
. A new routine can be exciting, but it can also take time for everyone to adjust. Not only that I work from home and taking time to get Charlie up for work takes away from my work. Having a schedule will be easier on Charlie and I and keep drama at bay.
The first thing we would do is to start making changes early. One key point I wanted to share is you do not have to change everything overnight. Try moving bedtime earlier by 15 to 30 minutes every few nights. Slowly adjusting wake-up times can help children and even parents get used to their school schedule without feeling like the summer fun disappeared all at once.
If you can try and create a calming bedtime routine because a familiar routine helps children know what to expect but it will keep parents sane as well.
Some ideas include:
- taking a bath or shower before bed
- reading a favorite book
- laying out clothes for the next day
- packing backpacks
- turning off screens before bedtime
- having quiet family conversations
- Locking phones away
These simple habits can help signal that it is time to slow down.
One of the best things I did for my family was to prepare for busy mornings the Night before because in our home a smoother morning often begins the evening before.
Families can:
- choose outfits ahead of time
- prepare lunches or snacks
- organize backpacks
- check the family calendar
- set alarms
Even a few minutes of preparation can make a big difference in a household trying to get out of the house on time..
Remember every child Is different like Suzzane some children adjust quickly to a new schedule, while others like Charlie need more time. Younger children may struggle with changes, and older children may have activities that make bedtime more complicated.
Homeschool families, online school families, and traditional school families may all have different routines, but every child benefits from consistency and rest.
Remember to give yourself grace during the transition because he first few weeks of school are an adjustment period. There may be tired mornings, sleepy afternoons, and moments when everyone is learning the new rhythm. That is normal.
The goal is not to create a perfect schedule. The goal is to help your family feel rested, prepared, and ready for the adventures ahead. As we continue our Back-to-School Countdown, we’ll share more ideas to make busy school mornings easier and help families enjoy this new season together.
Tomorrow, we’ll talk about morning routines that can help families get out the door with less stress.
14-Day Back-to-School Bedtime Reset
Our Sleep Schedule
Every-Night Bedtime Checklist
Tonight’s Goals
Our 14-Day Tracker
14 Days of Progress
| Day | Bedtime | Wake-Up | Clothes | Backpack | Lunch | Screens Off | Routine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 2 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 3 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 4 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 5 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 6 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 7 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 8 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 9 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 10 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 11 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 12 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 13 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||
| 14 | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
One Thing We Did Well
Something We Want to Work On
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
