Summer should get a speeding ticket!

And just like that, summer is over and out! For kids and young people, school/college is happening, which brings with it a mix of emotions – some feel excitement, others feel anxious and at some stage everyone feels overwhelmed sorting out uniforms, stationery and more!

Get ready to jump into a new season!

We’ve put together some tips to help you get ahead and beat the summer slump:

• Before going back to school, try and get back to your regular sleeping pattern. Get some early nights and get up the time you would for school, so it’s not too hard getting up on your very first day back.
• Get uniforms and school bags ready the night before so you’re all organised for the morning rush.
• Start the day right with breakfast. With school and work often starting early, families don’t always have much time for their first meal of the day, however eating breakfast is associated with better brain development, stronger performance in school, and well-being in kids.
• Pack some healthy snacks to keep your energy levels up throughout the day. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and snack on fruit at break times.
• Keeping track of school information at the start of a new school year can be tricky! Try to have an area in the house where you keep important school letters so you don’t miss a thing! A shared calendar is also handy so everyone in the house can see at a glance upcoming events, activities and deadlines!
• One of the hardest parts of heading back to school is getting to grips with new schedules and timetables. It takes some practice before you get in the groove. To make the transition easier, spell out exactly what’s expected of your child in the morning and when they come home. Knowing their responsibilities will help them take to their new routine faster.

Takeaway…

Remember, developing your family habits takes time, and that’s OK. They’re worth it. Being consistent with healthy family routines, like bedtime and after-school routines, can positively affect children’s health and well-being and putting in the work to help your child develop beneficial routines now will help them develop go-to healthy habits they’ll have in their back pocket for life.