The Summer is Drawing to a Close

Dear Home Ec 101,

Do either of you ladies have any tips for easing into the school routine? We’ve been sleeping until noon and howling at the moon. I have a feeling 6am is going to come as a rude awakening in two weeks.

Signed,

Sleepy Slacker McSlackersons

Heather says:
Since you have two weeks, you don’t have to turn into a drill sergeant just yet. First, tomorrow spend some time with you child(ren) and help clean up their room. Why? It’s easier to sleep in a room vs a pig sty. Explain as you shovel and sort that the new school year means it’s time for new routines. If at all possible try to have their room as dark as possible in the evening and begin getting ready fifteen minutes earlier than what’s their normal summer schedule. The next night, start fifteen minutes earlier than the one before and repeat until you reach their school year bedtime.

Consider bribery in the mornings. I know bacon will get me out of bed in a hurry. It’s just as important to reset their wake-up call as it is to reset their evening schedules. Avoid letting kids sleep in for more than an hour on the weekends, unless you really enjoy miserable Mondays. (It doesn’t bother some kids as much as others, just be aware). If bribery doesn’t work, continue moving the bedtime earlier until the kid can manage to get out of bed without a struggle. Either they are desperate for the sleep or they’ll eventually miss enough activities to realize it’s worth the effort.

Our household is a little weird, Mr. Heather works rotating shifts, so he doesn’t see the kids in the evening whether he’s on days or nights, it’s just something we’ve had to get used to.

So tell me, Home Eccers how do you get your bedtime back in order after summer slacking?

Send your household questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

Tagged as: Ask the audience, Back on Track