With the Feb half term coming to an end, it can be tricky getting the kids back into a school routine, especially when they want to make the most of their last days of freedom! We’ve pulled together some simple school routine ideas to give your kids a little structure, so they can make sure they go back to school with a bang and stay focused during the day.
5 simple ideas to get back into the school routine
1. Setting a proper bedtime
Sleep is one of the most important factors to help your kids kick start the next day the right way, as studies from the sleep foundation show it’s linked to better performance in school. It’s important that your kids get the recommended 8 hour snooze to feel fully refreshed and energised. Creating a consistent night time routine for school where you set aside time for them to unwind with a calming bath/shower, read a book, pick out their clothes for the next day, or even meditate, will make bedtime feel less chaotic.
2. Managing screen time
It’s easy for kids to get carried away scrolling on social media platforms like TikTok late into the night, so setting a daily limit on their phone or tablet can give you the peace of mind that they’re not spending all their time staring at a screen. We know setting a daily limit might not be the best option for all families, so make sure to check out our other article on screen time for more top tips on managing it with your family
3. Creating a morning routine
You can take the stress out of the morning with a set routine, to make sure the kids get to school on time and have everything prepped in advance. Waking up early doesn’t have to be a bad thing, especially if you bake our last two tips into your routine. Start by writing a to do list and estimate the amount of time needed to comfortably do each task. By setting aside enough time for the tasks in the morning, you are more likely to walk out the house on time and in good spirits with the kids in tow (a win for any parent in the morning!)
4. Make time for homework
Instead of leaving homework for later, pop some time aside an hour or two as part of your after school routine to help your child with their work in a calm, distraction free workspace. By tackling homework early in the evening you can make sure the rest of the night is stress free, and solely for quality family time. You’ll also get the luxury of doing other activities guilt free after you have helped the kids to get their homework done.
5. Meal prep
To save time in the morning why not meal prep the night before? With recipes such as overnight oats and breakfast burritos, you cut down on the time needed in the morning run if you get everything sorted the night before. Have a scroll through social media for easy meal prep ideas that will make sure you and the kids start the day on the right foot.
Getting back into the school routine does not have to be complicated, it’s all about getting organised, and we hope that the few suggestions above will help you elevate your back to school routine ideas. If your kids are now in secondary we have a secondary school checklist for parents to help guide you with a few more suggestions and as well as ways to get organised before starting secondary school. We hope that you are inspired and wish you all the best getting back into the swing of things.