Summer is almost over and so the vacation. Everything needs to be back on track especially kids. We believe it or not but during vacation we pamper our kids a little more. Sometimes with little extra TV and sometimes with new toys. Sometimes with picnic trips and sometimes with holidays. Sometimes we grant them junk food and sometimes we allow them extra night fun than the normal sleep pattern (just a bit but we do). All the small changes give them happiness throughout the vacation but at the same time that makes hard to fall back into routine. Well this does not mean you should not grant their wishes in vacation but yes you should prepare them for upcoming normal routine life too.

Here are few tips to help your kids to settle down in school after vacation:

Prepare for next: I know it is bit difficult but at least give a try. Drastic change can make them uneasy but little change fulfills the needful. Instead of going back to routine after school reopens, try to get back the routine before 2 weeks of opening date. Talk to them about upcoming school life, add one hr. study in last few days of vacation and talk about school friends. All these small talks prepare their mind  for upcoming changes.

Get the new stationary: You may think old one are just perfect or no need to buy new but all these small excitements actually alarm their mind for the upcoming school life as well as give them reason to go back to school. If you don’t agree with me I would suggest you to do window shopping for these stuffs with your little one and observe how they react? That would give idea about your upcoming situation. Once you buy new school essentials, let them remove the tags, fill the bags but don’t put them away. The visibility of these stuffs will remind your kids’ mind about school and that will really help them to prepare themselves.

Accept it: After vacation kids struggle with their morning alarms, daily study and homework.  They get less time to play and they have to follow some school rules too.   Even you could have struggle if you would have this much fun in vacation so relax, take a deep breath and accept it. It wasn’t this way either and it is not going to last forever.

Listen to their concern and complaints: Kids enjoy the comfort and fun throughout the vacation and once the holidays are over they need to leave certain things in one way or another and as a result they complaints. Sometimes they become grumpy or mad. Take the things easy and listen to them. Don’t jump into conversation of right and wrong, do not compare with happy go school kids and do not scold as well because at the end that will make the things harder. You can explain them when they are in good mood but prefer to be quite if they are there to complain. Give them time to absorb the new (actually old) routine.

Stories are best: Read books on school life, share some stories based on your kids’ fears and concern regarding school and share some stories of your childhood too. Stories of your mistakes and learning, stories about your fears and overcomes, and stories about some good did. If you don’t remember just make the one. Any how they are not going check on your childhood!!!

Add flavors in routine: Instead of rushing to fall back into routine, add some family time or fun time for next few days/weeks. It will provide them comfort zone. For example, in this vacation my little one learned bicycle and so I planned evening cycling with my daughter. I also like to reserve extra one hr. for her only (kind of parent-kid time) where sometimes we paint or sometimes we play or sometimes we simply enjoy talks with snacks. But this way we try to connect with each other the way we used to in vacation and I must say it’s real pleasure.

Continue summer fun in one or another way: Pick up some small activities of your summer fun and try to rewind those on weekends so they feel like vacation. For example, you can either go for picnic the way you did in summer vacation or you can just enjoy pretend play of picnic in your balcony or garden. This will offer them the effect of vacation but still in normal life.

Every kid is different, some likes school some don’t; some enjoys at school but don’t like it and some likes it but don’t enjoy the school. Some suffers separation anxiety and some are just easy going so at the end it is you who knows your kid better. Go with the flow and encourage them to accept the things that they cannot change.

Happy school day

Share: