Creating Positive Habits for School Over the Summer
Students are used to routine during the school year. They know how their school day is structured, what is expected, and what they need to get done. Summer tends to be a little more laid back, and it can be easy for kids to just coast by, doing what they want, when they want.
However, this can make it harder to get back into the swing of things when school starts in the fall. Their organizational skills suffer, they have more trouble managing their time, and they’re not in a learning mindset. While you don’t have to plan out every minute of their summer, you can keep healthy habits going to make the transition back to school easier.
Stick to a Basic Routine
Give your kids a few days to stay up late and sleep in, but then get them back into the habit of going to bed at a decent time and getting up in the morning. It doesn’t have to be as early as during the school year, but it maintains some consistency so you’re not fighting with them come August.
Practice Organizational Skills
How often does your child rush back in the door to grab something they forgot or call you from school to drop it off? Encourage them to think about what their plans are for the next day or later that day and plan ahead. What do they need to bring with them? What are they going to wear? Is everything purchased, packed, and ready to go?
Make it your child’s responsibility to pick up after themselves and put things back where they belong. After you go grocery shopping, have them help put items away. Create a daily list of different chores and let them manage their time to get everything done.
Plan Out Projects
Does your child want to redecorate their room or tackle another project? Have them plan out each step, what they’ll need, and how long it will take. Break down big tasks into smaller more manageable pieces. Set goals and a deadline. They’ll need to fit time to work on their project around other activities and obligations. This will help them with managing school projects later on.
Advocate for Themselves
A lot of kids have trouble speaking up for themselves. Create an environment where your child feels comfortable asking for help, presenting questions, and standing up for what they believe in. They may not always get their way, but you can teach them to engage in a civil discussion where they present their side, you present yours, and you reach a mutually agreeable solution.
When you go out, let your child order their own meal or pay for their own items. If there is something wrong with what they receive, support them in addressing it with an employee in a polite and respectful manner while resolving the problem.
School may be out for summer, but learning continues. There are plenty of opportunities to help your children work on essential skills that will benefit them in school and also in life in general. Crafting Scholars can work with you and your child to identify skills they want to improve for next school year and create a personalized learning plan to help them reach these goals. Contact us today to get started!
Originally published at https://craftingscholars.com on June 7, 2024.
