Routine is Key in Back-to-School Prep: Share Your Tips

By Susan Jenkins

The start of a new school year prompts mixed feelings from students, teachers and parents. 

It marks the end of summer vacation and a return to routines. For some families, it can be a tough adjustment. So Patch asked Facebook users to share their best tips for easing the transition back to school.

Montgomery County Public School students will begin school on Aug. 23.

For younger children, establishing a routine is important.

Nikki Ford shared her tips on Anne Arundel Patch's Facebook page, “Have a decent set bedtime/wind down time... We do snack, bath, brush teeth and a little reading time in bed to unwind. Doing this helps them because they know each night at the same time what to expect and I think that bit of wind down time after bath is important because it helps them relax and settle for a good nights sleep so they can be well rested."

It's also important to get back to a routine if you've let kids stay up later or sleep in during the summer.

"Two weeks before school starts we go back to school year bed time," wrote Ellen Weatherford on Anne Arundel Patch's Facebook page. "One week before school starts we start waking up at the early times so that we can work out the sluggishness. Everyone is awake, fed and dressed by the time they are supposed to be out of the door, and lunch is scheduled for school lunch time."

Getting teens back on a school schedule again can be challenging.

"I have a teenager and a week before school starts, he gets back in the routine by going to bed at a decent time and setting his alarm to get up early," wrote Deborah Sofield Maynard on Facebook.

The efforts of parents to get their children ready for school isn't overlooked by teachers.

"Thank you, parents!" wrote Doris Lee Mason on Facebook. "It is really hard to teach a sleeping child. Teachers appreciate your effort."