Back to school as easy as 1-2-3

New York feels different when the summer comes to a close and September hits, and I’m not just talking about all the back-to-school sales.

Vacations come to a close and rules start going back into place. Structure and routines become more important, and time feels more limited. Around the hours of 8 am and 3 pm, the streets get more crowded, with the bustle of school drop-off and pickup.

Switching into school mode is not something that happens easily. For a smooth transition into the school year, you need to put some thought and effort into it.

Don’t fret; with a touch of planning, your family can have the best school year yet! Here are three tips to make a smooth transition back to school.

1. Create a calendar

Writing down planned events not only keeps you organized, but it also helps your small being. Depending on your family flow, you might want to make a weekly or a monthly calendar. An added bonus to this is that your children will know their schedule, so they will feel more independent.

Mark down school days, non-school days, and weekends. This clear visual representation of time will create clear expectations for everyone. If your small beings are not reading yet, use pictures.

You can create the calendar as a family project, and put it where everyone in your family can see. Consider maintaining it throughout the year.

2. Talk to your kids about the changes that come with the school year

Don’t change the rules of the house without talking with your small beings about them. This ensures clear expectations.

Have conversations about what is expected behavior now that school is starting and summer is coming to a close. Be sure to use language that is age appropriate and concise.

3. Start your school routine before school actually starts

The night before school should not be the first night that your small being retires at bedtime.

For a few days before school starts, get your family in a routine similar to school. That might look like: waking up early, getting ready and leaving the house together at normal school time, spending a big chunk of the day out of the house (at playgrounds, on play dates, running errands), coming home for afternoon relaxation and dinner, and ending the day with a solid bedtime routine.

The more regulated you can make the routine before school starts, the easier the transition to school will be.

One special tip for you, the parent and big being: recognize that school days result in different behaviors from your kids.

Here’s why: all summer, whether they were in camp or simply spending days outside, there was more physical activity. Your children were physically exhausted at the end of the day.

School, however, is more mentally tiring. Frustration tolerance may shift as energy levels change. Set your expectations for your small being’s behavior, so that you can be patient as her behavior shifts.

Have a great transition, and let me know how it goes!

Dr. Marcie Beigel is a behavioral therapist based in Brooklyn. She has worked with thousands of families for more than 15 years and has condensed her observations into her practice and programs. For more on her, visit www.BehaviorAndBeyond.net.