STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Latest News

• Collier schools summer bus schedules announced
• Report: UCF players tell of intense workout, coach cursing before Plancher's death
• Traffic enforcement locations for Collier, Lee

Share and Enjoy [?]

Summer is a pleasurable and fun time for children and for parents alike. It gives both a chance to get out of the hectic daily school day routine.

Summer schedules are usually very lax, there’s no homework to be concerned about, and in many families, bedtime hours are later than normal as children can sleep in the next day. During this time, families go on vacation and in the case of divorced families, children spend much of the summer with the non-custodial parent where again there is a lax schedule.

However, with school just around the corner, I thought it would be the proper time to share some thoughts I have for parents to help their children make adjustments from their lax summer to a regimented schedule of early to bed and early to rise routine.

It can indeed be a difficult transition. You might help in motivating them by talking about some of the positive things they will be doing in school. Perhaps they will have a chance to see some of their friends they hadn’t seen most of the summer. Children also like to hear stories about what it was like for you as a child going to school. Share with them some of your fun or positive experiences.

Those first few weeks can be particularly trying as everyone struggles to get into the new routine. One of the most important factors your child needs is to receive the required amount of sleep. The number of hours needed differ with each child. However, a child age five to nine needs about 10 hours a night, while a preteen may need a little over nine hours. A child needs enough sleep to concentrate and learn more easily, as well as to reduce behavioral problems.

Some parents question how they will know if their children are getting enough sleep. You will know if your child is not getting enough sleep if you notice a short attention span, irritability, crankiness, restlessness, defensiveness, tearfulness, etc.

For your child to get enough sleep, I suggest you begin now by starting bedtime a little earlier every few nights so your child will begin arising a little earlier every day. Waiting until the night before the start of school to begin the early bedtime regime usually will not work. It’s also wise to plan the night before school to be a relaxing night at home. Allow at least 30 minutes, including reading a story, etc. for a bedtime routine for your child before settling in. A few days before school begins make sure you have all the supplies needed for those first few days.

Prepare everything you can the night before to ease the stress of the morning. Kids can be forgetful just like anyone else. Check with them each night if they need anything special for school, such as money, permission slips that need to be signed, etc. I suggest you have them empty their backpacks every night so that you know what they contain.

See that your child has the clothing laid out for the next day. Do this every night. Don’t wait until the next morning to have a fight with your child about what he/she is going to wear. That is a horrible way to begin a day for both you and your child.

Have a designated place for your child to do homework. This needs to be a quiet place where he/she will not be interrupted by others. Be available for questions and guidance.

Play it smart and set your alarm for at least 15 minutes earlier than you need. Arouse the children early as well. This will help in case something unexpected happens.

Several parents have shared they had great success in getting the children going in the morning singing songs or seeing if they could beat the clock. Morning can be a joy instead of a hassle. Put a smile on your face and keep a positive attitude. It’s surprising how contagious that is.

---

Carolyn Katchmar is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a certified addictions professional in Florida and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Address questions to Ethics & Civility, Marco Eagle, P.O. Box 579, Marco Island, FL 34146. Katchmar also can be reached at ckharper@comcast.net.