If you’re a parent, you’ve undoubtedly been in this situation countless times. You’re trying to get your kid back in the swing of school, but it’s extremely difficult. They can’t wake up, they’re mentally unprepared and they’re downright miserable. The start of school is usually a stressful time for everyone. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you follow these tips prior to the start of school, the transition back into a regular routine will be seamless for your kids.

Normalize sleeping habits weeks in advance

While some kids take advantage of their little responsibility by staying up really late and waking up in the afternoon, this is the worst habit for getting back in the school routine. A few weeks in advance, you should get your child to begin gradually getting up earlier and earlier. This will also urge them to sleep earlier without causing a drastic change in the body’s regular functions. By the time the first day of school rolls along, your child will be back in a regular sleeping routine.

Keep your child energized with activities

It’s fine to let your child rest after months of intense school work, but the whole summer shouldn’t be wasted eating potato chips and watching cartoons. This is an unhealthy pattern that’ll make your child more languid as summer progresses. Then, by the time school starts, he or she will be sluggish, out of shape and generally unhappy. Prevent this by keeping them active and energized through sports and other activities. Something as simple as registering them for a summer sports camp or going on daily bike rides will stave off lethargy and keep them ready for school.

Prepare healthy meals before and during school

Getting a nice healthy meal every day should be a priority, but it’s especially important to eat healthy before and at the very start of the school year. Eating meals high in protein, fiber and other nutrients will keep your children feeling energized and ready to go. Breakfast is vital, and if you’re not confident the school serves good meals, feel free to pack lunch.

Get your kid mentally prepared

Even though there’s a prominent physical aspect of going back to school, the right mentality needs to be fostered for them to be truly prepared. You can go about this in a number of ways. For example, a sample science project similar to one they might encounter throughout the year will get them excited. You can also give them a reading assignment you know they’ll enjoy. The brain is like a muscle that needs to exercise to get back into shape.

Make sure they have school supplies, immunizations and confidence

Nothing will make them feel more prepared and willing to get back to school than having everything neatly in order. For example, they should have all their necessary school supplies, immunizations and, of course, confidence. While you can’t buy confidence, it’s important for a child to feel good going back to school because it makes them less susceptible to bullying and panic attacks.

Timothy Martinez Jr. is a freelance writer and contributes to a number of blogs, including the official blog of Backyard Chirper.

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