The arrival of September is synonymous with routine and back to school. However, for many parents the first days of the new course can be a real headache. With the summer holidays, many children's habits and schedules have changed. If they have been spending a few days with grandparents or uncles, if they have traveled as a family or if they have shared routines with other children whom they do not see regularly, it is normal for the little ones to find it difficult to recover from day to day.
However, do not despair. In the same way that certain tricks work for us adults to resume our day-to-day life and our obligations after a period of rest or inactivity, with children we can also follow certain guidelines so that they adapt without problems to the new routine.
The European Sleep Institute recommends that children go to bed earlier during the last days of the holidays – as if school had already started – so that, when the time comes, it is not difficult for them to get up when the alarm clock goes off.
One of the best ways to teach your child to adapt better to the new schedules is by explaining to him what is happening and why it is necessary to return to the routine. Tell him that he needs energy to play again with his friends, enjoy recess or give his all in extracurricular activities.
For adults, going back to work can be traumatic. The symptoms of apathy, discouragement, boredom or even anguish denote the dreaded post-vacation syndrome. It is important that the child does not perceive these emotions so as not to imitate the behavior and to internalize the return to normality as something negative. He talks with them about the novelties that the new course will bring to their lives –new teachers, classmates, extracurricular activities that excite them– to awaken their enthusiasm.
Avoid video games before bed and instead encourage a calm and serene environment that invites them to relax. Bet on reading them a story when they are already in bed or play some relaxing game with them. In Ayudarte Estudio de Psicología they propose games like blowing bubbles, since it helps children learn to breathe deeply.
Involve your children in the return to the routine. When you go to buy backpacks, books, uniforms... let them go with you. This involves them from the beginning and they will feel more motivated to return to the routine with a positive attitude.
