Great Back-to-School Habits for Kids

Just a couple more weeks and it will be "back to school" time! It is wise to get your kids into some healthy habits now so that they can survive and thrive this school year.

1. Maintain a regular bedtime. Due to a less flexible schedule and longer daylight hours, most kids get into a summertime habit of staying up late. Begin now to get your kids into the great back to school habit of going to bed at the same time every night. If they are not tired, encourage them to read in bed or listen to an educational CD.

2. Initiate a "Before Bed Routine." Go a step further and list 3-5 tasks that your kids can do each night before bed (in the same order each night) to make the school year easier. You could include tasks such as cleaning out and re-packing the backpack, laying out tomorrow's clothes, brushing teeth and other hygiene duties, and packing lunch.

3. Eat a healthy breakfast. It's time to kick the habit of sleeping half the day and then munching on sugar coated cereal or leftover pizza upon arising. Get your kids into the habit of eating a healthy breakfast early in the mornings before they go back to school. You could bake a giant weekly batch of muffins to freeze, provide healthy cereal and skim milk, keep the fruit bowl full, and teach your older children how to boil oats or grits. If your family is really short on time in the mornings, try freezing breakfast burritos, pre-made biscuits and pancakes, and cooked eggs.

4. Don't procrastinate with homework. Your children need to have the stability and security that comes with accomplishing what's necessary before what's fun. Don't allow them to goof off and then stay up all night finishing assignments (or not doing them at all). Set up an afternoon time that includes homework, exercise/activity, and a healthful snack if needed.

5. Keep the clutter down. This school year encourage your kids to clean out their backpacks and lockers on a regular basis. Get rid of trash, an d process other paperwork by filing it, adding notices to your family calendar, and getting assignments completed early. Provide bins or baskets for your kids to deposit correspondence between parents and teachers, assignments requiring parental assistance/involvement, and notices of events coming up.

All of these are healthy back to school habits that will get your school year off to a great start!