School is about to start.

I know, it’s a crushing thought when you’re still enjoying summer fun; you want to keep it going as long as possible. The last thing you want to think about is the structure and organization needed for school.

But sooner or later you have to face reality! If you start slowly adjusting your behavioral expectations now, there will not be an abrupt transition when you go back to school (Click to Tweet). Instituting your morning routine and homework time will not be so painful.

My advice: Take a little time and energy now and breeze into the first days of school.

Here are some easy things to do to get you started:

1.     A few weeks before school begins, start shifting your morning routine to the way it needs to be for school. Even if you’re not leaving the house today, get your kids dressed and have breakfast the way you would for a school day. When you ease your small beings into a routine, the time crunch during the school year won’t feel so surprising.

2.     Read, read, read. During the school year, many students need to read for 30 minutes every day. Get back into the habit of reading every day. If your small being is too young to read independently, then read with or to them for 30 minutes. Reading every day is a great habit.

3.     Each day share three great things about school and why you’re excited for the year to come.If you’re excited, then your small being will be as well. The same happens in reverse!

4.     Get back to bedtime! Over the summer it’s easy to let a strict bedtime slip. The amount of rest anyone gets in a night truly impacts one’s behavior. Make sure your small beings are back to their bedtime routines before school starts to avoid overtired and cranky small beings.

Try any or all of these strategies and you and your small beings will have a smoother transition back to school.

And if you are looking for more behavior insights, consider pre-ordering my book Love Your Classroom Again. It is packed with behavior strategies that are ideal for the classroom and applicable for parents as well.

Insight Into Action

Teachers: Which of these strategies are you going to use for the transition back to the school year?

Parents: Use one of these strategies for five continuous days. How did it go?

Feedback? Thoughts? Comments? Email me at: [email protected]

With a little help we can all grow. If a special person in your life can use this information,then please forward this blog.

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