How to Transition Back to School

Is anyone else feeling that familiar mix of excitement and dread as summer winds down? That love/hate relationship with going back to school is so real for me as a mother.

I absolutely love summer with my kids. No schedules, no early wake-ups, just lazy deck conversations over late-night ice cream and coming home exhausted from swimming adventures. By August’s end, I’m completely worn out and secretly craving the structure that school brings back to our lives.

If you’re like me and enjoy summer right up until the very last minute (no early bedtimes or “practice runs” in our house), then you know the challenge of jumping straight back into school mode. Here’s how I’ve learned to make that sudden transition a little smoother.

Setting the Stage the Night Before

The night before school starts is crucial for setting the tone for the entire year. This is when I sit down with my kids and explain our new reality: bedtime is now at 9:30 pm, and not “whenever you fall asleep watching a movie.”

I try to be honest with them but remain positive: “Summer was amazing, but now we need to take care of our ourselves so we can learn and have energy for school.” Then I actually stick to that bedtime all school year long.

Creating a Bedtime Routine That Actually Works

Here’s the truth: during summer, our bedtime “routine” is basically chaos. But once school starts, I become much more strict with my kids because I’ve learned the hard way that having good mornings start with having good nights.

Our household bedtime routine includes:

• Getting a snack (because someone is always “starving” at bedtime)
• Quick cleanup of the day’s mess
• Making tomorrow’s lunch
• Bath time
• Pajamas and teeth brushing
• Picking out clothes for the next day
• Reading together

We have learned that it is important to start this routine early enough to actually finish it. I have one child who breezes through everything in 30 minutes, and another who somehow stretches it to two hours (yes, two full hours – it drives me crazy)! I suggest you figure out your kids’ bedtime routine timing and plan accordingly early in the year because your sanity depends on it.

The Magic of Alarm Clocks

In our house, once my kids hit elementary school, they get their own alarm clock. We simply use Google Home Mini’s, and ask it to set an alarm every night during our bedtime routine. This simple tool has been a game-changer for our mornings. When my kids wake up to their own alarm and their clothes are already picked out, they can get dressed immediately without me having to drag them out of bed. It saves me a lot of frustration in the mornings.

If you haven’t tried alarm clocks yet, seriously consider it. It gives kids ownership over their morning and gives you a few precious minutes to get yourself together.

Streamlining Your Morning Routine

Your morning routine is just as important as your nighttime one. Ours looks like this:

• Wake up to your alarm
• Get dressed in preselected clothes
• Brush teeth and fix hair
• Eat breakfast
• Practice piano (if applicable)
• Grab packed backpacks
• Head out the door

I find that the more you can do to get your kids ready the night before, the smoother your morning will be. Trust me on this one, for instance, having their backpack packed the night before saves the chaos that comes with having to collect everything as they get ready to head out the door.

When Reality Hits (And It Will)

Even with all this preparation, we still have some mornings and nights that are still hard. Things happen. Routines fall apart. Kids have meltdowns. I’m definitely not a morning person, and no matter how many school mornings I’ve survived, getting up early never gets easier for me.

The important thing is to give yourself grace and get back on track the next day. Parenting is hard, and we’re all doing our best. Be kind to yourself!

Also, remember that older kids start creating their own routines (which is wonderful), while younger ones still need lots of guidance. Factor this into your expectations and timing. We always adjust our routines as our kids get older and start to develop their own routines.

Here’s to an amazing school year and hoping your back-to-school transition is smoother than you expect! Remember it doesn’t have to be perfect! We’ve got this!