Of course, this also applies to your children. The first week of school is therefore a real ordeal. Discover our tips to start the school year with fit children!
PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR CHALLENGING DAYS
Avoid a full agenda the last week of August. After all, the first week of school requires a lot of energy from your child. A new teacher, functioning in a group again, following many rules, perhaps even a new school and/or new classmates ... both psychologically and emotionally, it takes some getting used to for your child. So make sure that you provide enough relaxation and entertainment in the last holiday week.
EARLY REGULARITY
Combine the rest with more regularity: a little earlier into bed every day during the last holiday week and getting up a little earlier every day. So your child will get into the right sleeping rhythm of the new school year sooner.
If your children have trouble falling asleep, don't let them do physically or mentally strenuous activities before bedtime. Do you have avid gamers at home? It's not a good idea to play games several hours a day during the last week, certainly not just before bedtime.
Research shows that too much media use reduces the quality of sleep. Put on some quiet music. Let them read a book, or even better: read a story yourself. A much smarter sleeping ritual for your child!
WAKING UP PLEASANTLY
Setting the table, making sandwiches, picking out clothes, making a school bag ... the mornings are quite busy during a school week. Especially during the first few days of school, however, every minute of sleep matters. Just get everything ready the night before. You'll save at least a quarter of an hour!
GIVE YOUR CHILD TIME TO ADJUST
Since that first week of school is so exhausting, it's best not to plan too much after school in the beginning. Your child - and your whole family - needs rest. Getting out of bed earlier, all those new impressions, having to pay attention in class ... you would feel tired as well (and irritated more easily).
Give your children a chance to talk about it and ventilate for a while. With clear agreements about food, sweets, watching TV and sleeping, they get adjusted faster. Before you know it, everyone will be back to normal school and sleep rhythm!