The start of school can be a mixed bag for kids. Some are eager to get back to routine and see their friends on a daily basis. Others dread the workload and demands that differ from the freedoms of summer. Regardless of how your child feels, there are certain actions that all parents can take to help their child experience a better transition back to school.

If your child has had a later bedtime, a more relaxed meal schedule, lax curfews, more social freedom, or any other differences to their routine compared to the school year, returning to school can feel like a shock to the system. Rather than riding out those last golden days of summer only to jolt back to reality of school, try easing back into the school routine instead. To get back to the preferred school year bedtime, take the week before school starts and move bedtime earlier by 10 minutes a night. Gradually moving bedtime earlier prevents the change from making it hard to fall asleep. This can get kids back into the routine of going to sleep at their school year bedtime, and by the time school starts, kids will be able to wake up for school well-rested.

If kids have been able to stay out to whatever time during summer because they did not have the responsibilities of the school year, taking a similar approach of reinstating curfew at least a few days before school starts can help kids adjust to changes........

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