By: Hood Staff

The supplies are purchased and packed in the new backpack. The clothes are laid out for first day photos. The sun-kissed hair has a fresh cut. Everything is ready for the first day of school, except maybe one thing: a plan to shift from long summer days to focused school learning. As adults, most of us have heard of setting SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.

We set goals with these guides in mind to help us be successful, so it only makes sense to utilize these ideas for our children when they are getting ready to start off a new school year. Your children will follow your lead, so head into the school year with excitement to make planning enjoyable. Encourage them to get involved and ask for feedback.

Getting them to buy-in will help make the transition easier. One of the most important tips is to ease into a new schedule. Summer is filled with late nights soaking in the last rays of the day, followed by sleeping in.

A few weeks before school, start transitioning bedtime and wake-up times. Another adjustment to make is to their eating habits. In the summer when there is a lot of time away from home, junk food can easily fill the cupboards. But when it comes time to learn, their stomachs – and brains – will need to be full of nutrition to help keep them attentive. Sit down together to plan out quick, convenient, and nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and after-school snacks.

Once school begins, you can set your family up for success by having an after-school routine. Where does their bag go? When and where is homework done? If mom and dad need to help, when will that happen?

Creating a space for success will help kids get excited about a new routine – and setting a schedule will help them thrive. Setting up goals now will help the transition to the new school year go smoother and set your child – and your entire family – up for success.