Resetting routines: Getting your kid back into the groove
Have you ever noticed that the time between Christmas and New Years is a lovely, dream-like time when you can lose track of the days and the family can loll around in their jammies? School is out and many businesses shut down. Time slows down, and movies and hot chocolate become the standard, along with sleeping in, card games and staying up later. What a lovely little respite from the hustle and bustle of pre-Christmas anxiety. ~ Tracy Coats
A feeling of panic comes over you as you look at the calendar knowing that you only have a few days to snap the family back into their routines for school and work. Re-entry from downtime can be painful, but here are some tips to help lessen the pain a little.
Start Early
Sunday Scaries are no fun! Don’t wait for the Sunday night before school resumes to get everyone back on their regular bedtime routine. Start a couple nights before so you can work out all the kinks. You don’t necessarily have to wake up at 6:00 a.m., but it helps to have everyone up at a reasonable hour. No sleeping until 11 anymore!
Get Moving
Get the whole family moving, especially if there has been a lot of laying around, reading, watching movies and chilling. Exercise will help reinvigorate your family, stretch them out, and possibly tire them out for a good, restful night's sleep. You don’t have to run a 5k, ease into it with yoga, stretching, a dance party, or a game of Twister! GoNoodle is chock full of movement breaks from mindfulness to guided dance.
Movement and mindfulness breaks can also help with your kiddo’s back to school blues. Work with them on strategies to help with their anxiety like using their breath to help calm them down. Elephant Breath or Rainbow Breath are two videos that are perfect to teach your kiddo how to regulate their body.
Get Organized
Getting your family organized before going back to work and school is a huge stress reliever! Get the family involved and make it fun! Did everyone get new clothes? Have a fashion show and pick out new outfits for school! Lay them out and have them ready to go. Get all the laundry done, if possible and put away so rooms are tidy. Come up with some new yummy lunch ideas or shop together for the old favorites so lunches are a snap that morning.
Going back to school and work after a long break can be an anxious time for the whole family. Staying calm, having fun and getting back into a comfortable groove can help mitigate some of that anxiety. Modeling a positive attitude for your kiddos can help as well. Set up a Facetime with your little one’s pals so they can discuss how their holidays were and going back to school. Getting ahead of the anxiety and Sunday Scaries can make a big difference!
