School supplies… check!
Fresh haircut… check!
New shoes… check!
Morning routine… make sure you have a plan for your mornings!
Let me start off by saying that I’m a mom of two boys (they are in college now), but I remember how hard it is — the early mornings, the distractions, and the attitudes. “Just get in the car. We have to leave NOW.” Every mom has said it. Screamed it. Maybe even added a colorful word or two.
Aside from being a mom, I have the best job ever! I’m a kindergarten teacher — transitional kindergarten to be exact. Jacksonville Mom asked some teachers for their best tips to transition from summer back to school, and here’s mine.
From mom to mom, teacher to mom, neighbor to neighbor: One of the best things you can do to help set your child’s day up for success is to establish a good morning routine. Set up a simple but solid routine that allows plenty of time for the basics. A routine that you can be consistent with. A routine that allows plenty of time for your child to fully wake up. Who just rolled their eyes? The mornings are brutal, I know, I know, but a routine will help. Stay with me, moms!
READ: How to Create a Back-to-School Morning Routine That Works
Day 1 to day 180: Use the same routine. Kindergarten-aged children should be working on following 2-to-3-step directions. The morning routine is a great way to practice this skill. Have clothes already set out for them. When you wake them up, ask them to do three things and meet you in the dining room / kitchen / wherever you eat.
“Good morning, my little love bug. It’s time to get dressed, use the bathroom, and brush your teeth and hair. Let’s go over those again. Get dressed, use the bathroom, brush teeth, and hair. Got it? I’ll meet you in the kitchen in five minutes so we can eat breakfast. Start moving now, and I’ll give you a 1-minute warning before time is up.”
Is this going to work perfectly on day 1? NO, but I bet it will become second nature by day 10. Not only is this routine beneficial at home, but it also has an impact on the beginning of their school day. You’d be surprised how many students come to school and need to use the bathroom first thing. You wouldn’t think that was a big deal, but if your child uses a shared bathroom, their morning just changed. What normally would be unpacking and starting morning work changed to interactions with other students (some positive, some not), time spent waiting in line, and likely a game of paper towel basketball. All of which are interruptions, causing a delayed start to their school morning.
READ: Morning Routine Madness: Fostering Independence in Your Child
The most important step in the morning routine is to eat breakfast. I can’t stress this enough. If a child comes to school hungry, that is all they can think about. Their brains can’t absorb the skills we are teaching when their stomach has taken over all control. Even the students who eat breakfast end up asking when lunch is starting at around 9:30 a.m. Grab a breakfast bar and a banana. Some peanut butter toast. Berries and yogurt. I don’t mean for you to make bacon, eggs, and fresh muffins every morning (I sure didn’t), but they need to fill their bellies with something nutritious so they can focus and thrive at school.
Your teacher has worked hard and planned well to have an amazing school day! It helps so much if you send your child to school rested with an empty bladder and a full belly. And no matter how rough your morning goes, try to make your last few words in the carline or at the bus stop positive ones.
Dropping your child off in prime condition allows us to optimize our time together. In the end, we all want the same thing: for your child to be happy and successful! Cheers to a great school year ahead!
Our “Dear Parent, From a Teacher” series helps parents obtain the tools and insight to ensure a successful school year for their children. If you are a teacher who wishes to write a guest blog for this series, please email your topic to [email protected].
About the Author
Jenna Thompson received her teaching degree from UNF and has been around the beach teaching preschool/VPK, substitute teaching, and teaching kindergarten for the past 18 years. She is currently kicking off her 5th year at St. Paul’s Catholic School and is absolutely thrilled to be a part of their amazing team. Her husband (of 24 years this month) and two sons (both in college locally) have lived at the beach for 20 years. They just love this community!
