From summer daze to school days

It’s not easy to say goodbye to the beachy, blissful days of summer. But fall brings crisper air, the leaves changing colors, and getting back to school and a more structured routine.

For parents with young children, this time of year can present its own challenges. But a few simple measures can help things go more smoothly.

“It’s about getting into some new habits–or ‘new old’ habits,” said Anna Hartman, Director of Early Childhood Excellence at JUF. “Just starting to look ahead at what routines you want to have during the school year, and begin the process of moving towards those,” can be helpful, she said.

Experts agree that a good night’s sleep is essential for children and parents. Bedtime routines are a bit relaxed during the summer. But for the fall, switching to an earlier bedtime needs to happen weeks prior to school’s start–not the night before.

Danielle Pearl is an MS, RN, and busy mother of three children: one in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary school. She said that about a week before school starts, “I try and limit later-evening activities in an attempt to make for more of a regular bedtime.”

Additionally, Pearl shared that one of the main things she focuses on is the calendar. “That is such a huge part of us being organized and knowing which end is up. We’re a three-kid household and both of us [adults] work, so the minute I register them in a class, it goes into the shared calendar. That way I know, ‘Okay, this is a recurring class’ or ‘it’s once every month.’ It’s kind of a little bit of a puzzle or like Tetris.”

Every September, the new school year aligns beautifully with Rosh Hashanah. “This definitely coincides nicely with the concept of new beginnings,” said Julie Brodsky, Associate Vice President of Community Outreach and Engagement for JUF, and the mom of a 14 and a 7-year-old. “It’s a great time to bring out a PJ Library book and have the conversation, ‘Just like you’re doing new things and starting school or starting a new grade, the world is starting again.’ It’s a great opportunity to relate it to the holidays.”

Additionally, this is an excellent time to be reflective. Hartman said that even young children can participate in conversations that include the question, “‘What do we want this year to be like?’ and to talk about some of what our hopes are for the year ahead.”

While open communication is essential, Jenny Wasserman, Director of Early Childhood Education for Hillel Torah, cautioned that parents should be mindful of what they say–and how they say it. “I think as grown-ups, we talk about things a lot with them and we’re constantly asking them ‘Oh, are you so excited for the new school year and excited to meet your new teacher?'” Parents could be putting on a lot of pressure without even realizing it.

Many schools offer visits before school starts. If not, you can probably plan your own visit to walk them around to help them feel more comfortable and secure.

Abby Aloni, Head of Early Childhood at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, recommended that it’s good to have your own goodbye routine. “Maybe it’s ‘two squeezes and a fist bump’ when you say goodbye.” She highly recommended encouraging kids to be independent, even if that just means hanging up their coat in a cubby. “It’s important for them to have that agency over their actions.”

And one last piece of advice from Aloni that never gets old. Remind them: “I am going to go—but remember, Mommy or Daddy always comes back.”