The start of the school year is a hectic time for parents and children alike. The whole family unit starts a new schedule and develops new routines. While these routines develop, parents have a great chance to instill some subtle habits into the household. Here are seven habits to encourage in your family this school year.
-
Make Sleep a Priority
Your children’s sleep schedules probably got thrown off during the summer, but school gives you a chance to set things right. Quality sleep is crucial for cognitive development in kids and can also improve creative thinking skills. Of course, sleep is crucial for adults as well. It affects your mood, energy levels, job performance and parenting skills.
The first few weeks of school give you a window of opportunity to reset your family’s sleep schedules and ensure a full eight hours. Every day, everyone needs to go to bed and wake up at the same times. Your bodies need to develop new circadian rhythms, or the internal clock that helps you fall into natural sleep patterns.
-
Start the Day Off Right
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As the name suggests, you’re breaking an eight-plus hour fast. Your body is starving for a nutritious meal. Breakfast is especially important for children because it aids with on-task behavior such as concentrating and behaving in class. A balanced breakfast also leads to better academic performance.
Coffee for the adults and sugary cereal for the kids is a recipe for an unproductive day. You need protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. These foods will change everyone’s morning for the better:
-
Eggs
-
Nuts
-
Oatmeal
-
Bananas
-
Berries
-
Greek Yogurt
-
Whole Milk
You can still enjoy your two cups of coffee, but you also need to make a better effort to provide a well-balanced breakfast and start the day right.
-
Develop Table Manners
Table manners are one of the most difficult qualities to develop in children. Sometimes they just won’t listen. However, once school starts, you’ll have a chance to show them why table etiquette is necessary. Bad manners won’t fly at school. Schools are also full of germs and bacteria, so sanitary eating is a safety precaution just as much as a societal expectation.
Of course, kids don’t care much about safety and societal expectations, so you need to make manners fun. Get them excited about sitting up straight, chewing with their mouths closed and using utensils properly. Anything can be a game when you’re working with a child’s imagination.
-
Practice Good Hygiene
Kids are often lazy when it comes to bathing, washing their hands and brushing their teeth. They aren’t at the point of caring about their hygiene, so you need to employ the same tactic you used with table manners. Educate them about the importance of cleanliness in a fun, interactive way.
The best way to get kids to develop daily hygiene habits is to lead by example and do the activities alongside your kids. Many parents also sing songs to keep kids engaged while they learn to take care of their bodies.
-
Set a Regular Time for Homework
Kids vs. homework is a rivalry as old as the modern school system. Parents have tried many persuasion tactics to get their kids to do their homework, but the best strategy is the simplest one: time management. Establish a firm homework schedule shortly after your kids get home from school.
Once they finish their homework, they’re free to play with their siblings and friends. Homework time shouldn’t be a mutual exchange, but a non-negotiable arrangement. Kids have to learn that work comes before play.
-
Get Outside Every Day
If given the choice between the outdoors and an iPad, most kids will choose the iPad. Parents can’t let their children become addicted to electronics. It stunts their social skills, causes overstimulation and leads to a sedentary lifestyle – all of which lead to poor performance in school.
Rather than putting your children in front of a screen when they get home, tell them to go outside. The summer is over, so their activity levels need to increase now that they’re spending eight-plus hours sitting in school.
Outdoors time is equally important for adults. You need natural sunlight, fresh air and physical activity to remain a healthy and active parent. Your kids would be thrilled to play with you. Go outside and join them for at least 30 minutes every day, rain or shine.
-
Establish a Before-Bed Routine
As previously mentioned, your kids’ sleep schedules probably got thrown off course during the summer. They would go to bed and wake up at different times. This kind of volatility won’t last during the school year. You need to slowly establish a routine to help your kids relax before their assigned bedtimes.
For example, a shower/bath, light low-sugar snack and some educational TV will help them wind down. Over time, they will grow accustomed to the process and get tired while going through the steps. This strategy also encourages kids to develop their own routines to stay on-task at school.
Make Big Strides This School Year
You had lots of fun this summer, but it’s time to regroup and refocus on education. These seven habits will help your children make great strides during the school year. But more importantly, they will help your family become a more cohesive unit wherein everyone enjoys their role.
