Hard to believe summer is already halfway over and the new school year is about to begin again. Where did all the time go? The good thing is it’s not quite over, so there’s still time to plan for your best start of the year yet. Get started with the following guide.
Preparing Your Family For the New School Year
Summer is time for sleeping in, soaking in the rays, and hours and hours of play. No homework, no projects, and no tardy bells. The daily disciplines of classes and schoolwork are quickly forgotten yet hard to reinstate. Give your family the best chance for a great year with the following tips:
Smooth Transition
Going from free and clear all summer to homework, deadlines, and daily classes is a huge transition. Chances are, your kids may not be excited about it. Ease the transition by starting to reinstate a school year schedule a couple of weeks before school starts. Reintroduce school day bedtimes gradually and get everyone ready to waking up earlier and earlier.
Also gradually adjust meal times and snacks to mimic school day schedules to allow younger children to readjust to the new routine. Give everyone the smoothest transition possible. You’ll want to make sure you have all the required paperwork and documentation ready for the new year as well.
Family Calendar
Going back to school means school events, family events, and personal appointments. Everyone may be often going in different directions. Establish a centralized calendar to keep your family organized. The type of calendar you use isn’t as important as what you do with it. A paper calendar, whiteboard calendar, or a digital calendar synced to your family devices all work great. Determine what works best for your family. Consider color coding by person to make it easy to read.
Mind Your Mornings
How your day begins can have a significant impact on how the rest of it goes. This is just as true for your children as it is for you. Are your mornings chaotic and unpredictable or planned and routine? Take time the night before to plan for each morning. Pack lunches, make breakfast foods easily accessible and get your kids clothes out for the next day. Make sure all papers are signed, homework completed, and all other items are located and ready to go.
Submit to the Lord
As the new school year approaches, pray over your children. Pray for their new teachers and classmates. Pray for your children’s academic, physical, and spiritual growth. Submit the year, your days, and your children to the Lord. Take time to pray for each other as a family. Encourage your children to pray for their teachers and classmates.
Keep it Simple
There are so many activities for you and your children to get involved in- at school, church, and elsewhere. Neither you nor they have to do it all. In fact, this is one place where less is definitely often more. Find a balance between activities, school work, social interaction, personal and family time. Don’t feel like you have to do it all. Choose activities for your family thoughtfully and prayerfully. Leave time to connect with other families AND pour time and energy into your own.
Plan for the Best Year Yet
It’s true what they say- a little planning goes a long way. This is especially true when it comes to managing kids and a family. It will help you make the best use of the time you have. This is just one tool to help you optimize your life for the Lord. Use this guide for the new school year to get started.
At ORBC, we believe in family and we enjoy seeing families connect and serve the Lord. Contact Us for more ways to get connected.
