Suddenly (or so it seems) the long, sparkling days of summer are winding down, and a faint whiff of fall is in the air. Sure, it’s still splash pad and waffle cone weather, but change is coming. And getting kids on board with the shift can feel formidable.
The transition back to school is an exciting but sometimes stressful time for both parents and kids. Common challenges include adjustment to many kinds of “new,” separation anxiety, and academic worries.
In this post, we’ll explore how simple routines and effective learning tools from School Zone can reduce anxiety, create structure, and help children approach the school year with confidence. No tears, no pushback. (Or at least not much!)
Why Predictable Routines Help Children Thrive in School
If we are honest, most of us are pretty fond of our routines—that first cup of coffee in the morning, our favorite screensaver when we power up our device, a familiar face at the front desk. We get rattled when we wake up late, or traffic back-ups change our plans.
The federal Head Start program website notes that “Just like adults, children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. A consistent daily schedule and step-by-step routines give children a predictable day.”
The article Kids Thrive on Structure and Routines from Seattle Children’s Hospital is even more emphatic: “Routines and rituals help kids feel safe and secure. From the day they're born until they leave home, children benefit from structure and stability.”
Consistent routines help kids feel:
• Confident and in control – they know what is happening and what to expect
• Safe, secure, and comfortable – they are mostly without worry or distraction
• Able to learn – their mental energy is focused on what’s in front of them
• More emotionally stable and less anxious – they are better able to cope
The Seattle Children’s Hospital article further says, “It's also important to note that while routines benefit everyone, they're especially helpful for kids with autism, ADHD and anxiety. These children often need consistent daily schedules and comforting rituals to feel their best.”
In short, knowing what to expect throughout the school day and at home builds confidence, supports emotional well-being, frees up mental energy for learning, and helps prevent challenging behaviors.
In terms of the latter, the Raising Children Network, an Australia-based organization, suggests, “Routines can encourage positive behaviour because they help children learn what’s expected of them.” To re-emphasize: In so many ways, routines are confidence-building for children.
Easier School Morning Routines Begin the Night Before
Hectic mornings and long, full school days are easier to manage with night-before preparation and good sleep.
Recently, the Cleveland Health Clinic posted How to Get Your Kid on a Better Bedtime Routine. In it, they note that “Good sleep can benefit your child all year long. And if they’re getting ready for a transition, like a new school year, getting enough shut-eye can make a big difference.”
The article lists optimal sleep times for kids of different ages, suggests sleep-inducing bedtime habits, and notes that too little sleep can result in difficulty paying attention, lower energy, trouble learning and thinking clearly, and moodiness and irritability.
They also caution against making dramatic bedtime shifts. They say, “Move their bedtime by just 15 minutes every two to three days until you reach your target schedule.”
Besides adequate sleep, small habits can help families start the day calmly and confidently and build back-to-school confidence. Here are a few practical strategies for reducing morning chaos to benefit both you and your kids:
• Prepare backpacks and supplies the night before
• Establish consistent wake-up and bedtime schedules
• Create visual checklists for younger children
• Allow extra time to avoid rushing
• Rehearse/walk through the new ‘morning routine’ a few times before school starts
For more ideas on creating smooth school mornings, check out Nestlé Cereals 12 Back-to-School Tips: The Ultimate Survival Guide for Busy Mornings.
Learning Tools That Keep Skills Sharp and Confidence High
Educational activities at home can help children feel prepared for classroom learning. The wide range of activities available throughout School Zone Publishing workbooks, flash cards, downloads, and Anywhere Teacher online learning program reinforces key skills before and during the school year.
Anywhere Teacher delivers 3000+ activities (songs, games, storybooks, non-fiction books, interactive worksheets, reward-based Play Zones, and more) for kids ages 2-8. It includes structured, curriculum-based learning paths and mini paths as well as free-play options. One account gives multiple kids simultaneous access on different devices, and a parent dashboard makes it easy to monitor progress and adjust play. Just a few minutes a day can give kids’ math and reading skills a playful workout. The platform even has activities for developing social-emotional skills.
School Zone’s 320-page Big Workbooks for preschool through third grade, some focused on a specific subject and others covering a multi-subject, grade-based curriculum, are all tailor-made to help kids succeed in school. Do a page or two at a time to sharpen skills. Tear-out pages make easy take-anywhere individual worksheets too!
Supplementing classroom learning with these materials will help kids:
• Review reading and math fundamentals
• Build confidence through practice
• Prevent learning gaps during transitions
• Make learning fun and engaging
• Nurture curiosity and independence for future learning
Working on skills at home firmly roots the idea that learning is not just about “school.” It can—and does—happen anywhere, anytime.
Encourage Independence and Competence Throughout the School Year
Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle recognized the importance of habits, saying, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Help your child build habits that produce excellence! Habits that support long-term success. Consistent routines and regular use of supplemental learning tools can help children take ownership of and responsibility for their learning. In turn, this emerging autonomy helps them thrive.
To encourage independence that kids can apply for the rest of their lives:
• Create age-appropriate responsibilities – every member of the household, even the youngest, should have tasks and chores assigned to them
• Encourage self-directed learning – if your child expresses interest in something, prompt them to investigate more by doing online and library research, asking questions, and sharing their discoveries
• Help them solve problems independently – let them wrestle with a “hard thing” before jumping in with assistance even if they ask for it; urge them to “try a little longer” or “do your best thinking”
• Celebrate effort and progress – Extraordinary Kids Therapy posted The Importance of Celebrating Tiny Wins as a Parent. It says, “Celebrating tiny wins is about finding meaning in small successes. When we take the time to celebrate our accomplishments, no matter how small, we recognize the effort we put in and the progress we have made.” That increases kids’ motivation to keep trying and helps them understand it’s not always about the score or the win!
• Nurture independence and self-confidence – “Wow, you did that all by yourself!” goes a long way toward helping kids understand they won’t always have someone overseeing their work, and that’s OK. In fact, it’s expected!
Make Learning an Achievable and Positive Part of Everyday Life
Here are a few suggestions:
• Create short daily learning sessions before or after school – practice spelling lists, try a few flash cards, run through some math problems
• Turn everyday moments into learning opportunities - take advantage of activities like mealtime, bathtime, and playtime to incorporate simple things like reading stories or doing basic math when cooking
• Use easy games to reinforce skills – Reading Eggs offers some fun ideas in Crafty and Fun: Easy Hands-On Learning Ideas to Motivate Your Child. For example, take a walk in a nearby park, garden or nature trail, and ask your child to count the number of trees, flowers or birds they spot and tally them up with your help. Or choose a "word of the day" and try to find it in and around the house. (Listen for it on tv and the radio too!)
• Foster a positive attitude toward school and learning – In Big Life Journal’s blog post, 7 Ways to Instill a Love of learning in Children, Ashley Cullins offers excellent ideas. One is simply to provide hands-on experiences. She writes, “Again and again, research has shown that hands-on learning is the most effective for kids. When students move, touch, and experience, they learn better.”
• Always encourage questions – this past spring Zoo Family posted How Encouraging Questions in Kids Builds Curiosity and Learning, which notes that “Encouraging children’s questions fosters cognitive, language, and emotional development…”
Starting the School Year with Confidence and Joy
Simple routines and effective educational tools help both parents and children navigate the back-to-school season successfully. Preparation, consistency, and positive learning experiences can make the transition smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. Routines create structure and reduce stress, learning tools build readiness and confidence, and independence grows confidence and motivation.
Cushion the leap into a new school year with a soft landing. Bump up kids’ bedtimes gradually, rehearse new morning routines, and make great use of School Zone learning resources for both preschoolers and school-aged kids. These resources will help your family start the year strong and help kids stay motivated all school year long!
