By Alphonso Gaita, LCSW

Late August has a feel to it. The light changes, softer at dinner time, shadows stretching long across the street. A half deflated beach ball lingers in the yard. Lunchboxes, quiet all summer, make their way back to the counter.

For children, this isn’t just “back to school.” It’s a return to rhythm, the kind that steadies mornings, shapes afternoons, and quietly tells them, you can count on this.

Why Rhythm Outshines Rules

Children read the room, and the day, better than we think. When the order of things makes sense, they relax into it. That predictability frees up attention for friends, learning, and all the small adventures of a school day (Childcare Network, 2024; Bocknek, n.d.). It’s less about enforcing rules and more about offering a steady beat they can walk to.

Sleep: The Anchor

If rhythm is the music, sleep is the bass line. Ten to twelve hours gives most school age children the stamina and focus they need. The easiest way back to that? Inch bedtime earlier, a handful of minutes at a time, in the week or two before the first bell (Consumer Reports via WAFB, 2025). Keep the last hour before bed screen free. Swap it for a warm shower, a quick story, or even that meandering kind of conversation that only seems to happen when the lights are low (Raglin Bignall, 2025).

Building the Day Together

When children co create the plan, they’re not just following it, they’re owning it. A simple morning chart (words or pictures) cuts down on nagging. Specific praise sticks: “You remembered your folder before breakfast, that helps us all start on time” (Wilson & Straus, 2024). Afternoons work the same way; snack, movement, homework, downtime, in the same order, gives their minds and bodies a predictable wind down (Healthline, n.d.).

Making Space for Feelings

Big shifts bring big feelings. Excitement for a new art class can sit right alongside the knot in the stomach about where to sit at lunch. Naming both helps children feel understood: “You’re missing summer and also curious about what’s next” (Boyes, 2025). Add in grounding tools, a few deep breaths, a stretch, a comfort item, and they’re more prepared to handle the change (Kids Mental Health Foundation, n.d.).

A Gentle Two Week Transition

Days 1–3: Share summer highlights; draft a morning/bedtime flow together.

Days 1–7: Shift sleep gradually; add soothing bedtime cues.

Days 4–7: Test run mornings at “school speed.”

Days 4–10: Rebuild focus with reading, puzzles, or hands on tasks (KOAA News5, 2025).

Days 7–10: Agree on a homework slot and space, with breaks built in.

Days 8–14: Visit school, meet peers, echo familiar cues (Kids Mental Health Foundation, n.d.).

Days 10–14: Insert a midweek lift, pancakes, a short walk, a game.

Ongoing: Flex when needed; a routine that bends is one that lasts (Zero to Thrive, n.d.).

Closing Thought

At its heart, a routine is a promise. It says: “This is how we’ll move through our days. You’re not alone in it.” That kind of certainty gives children more room to be themselves, and more courage to meet what’s new.

References 

Boyes, A. (2025, August 10). 5 tips to help your child adjust to going back to school. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/202508/5-tips-to-help-your-child-adjust-to-going-back-to-school

Childcare Network. (2024, August 2). The importance of routine for children: Creating a consistent schedule.  https://childcarenetwork.com/the-importance-of-routine-for-children-creating-a-consistent-schedule/

Consumer Reports. (2025, August 6). Back-to-school: Easing kids back into the school routine. WAFB 9. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/back-to-school-tips/ar-AA1K1t1r

Healthline. (n.d.). Tips for getting you and your kids back into the school routine. 

https://www.healthline.com/health/back-to-school-routine-tips-for-parents-and-kids

Kids Mental Health Foundation. (n.d.). Back to school mental health resources.

 https://www.kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/back-to-school

KOAA News5. (2025, July 31). How to help your kids avoid the “summer slide” and get back into learning heading back to school. https://www.koaa.com/news/local-news/how-to-help-your-kids-avoid-the-summer-slide-and-get-back-into-learning-heading-back-to-   

school

Psychology Today. (2025, August 6). Best bets for back to school. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/be-amazing/202508/best-bets-for-back-to-school

Raglin Bignall, W. (2025, August 8). Helping kids get back into a school routine. WAFB 9.

 https://www.wafb.com/2025/08/08/helping-kids-get-back-into-school-routine/

The Step by Step School. (2025, April 7). The role of routine: Why consistency matters in early childhood education. https://thestepbystepschool.com/routine-in-childhood-education/

Wilson, L., & Straus, S. (2024, December 9). Helping kids back into the school routine. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/helping-kids-back-school-routine/

Zero to Thrive. (n.d.). The importance of routines for kids. https://zerotothrive.org/routines-for-kids/