Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Back to School Back to the Grind Back to the Routine... blah.

Next week the children start school. Ryan begins Kindergarten and Ashleigh starts second grade.  Yikes! We have really been enjoying our summer (and I'm sure from this post's title you can tell how I feel about this time of year).



Tomorrow we go to school to find out their teachers, check out classrooms, sign up for volunteer positions, get supply lists and, of course, and most importantly, see friends. 

For tonight though, we're working on just going to bed.  I'll be the first to say that I'm not a huge fan of having a strict bedtime especially during summer however there is a time and a place for getting a good night's sleep.

What's been working for the last week or so is this little drawing I made up. It's basically a chart for both of the children to follow.  They really don't have to go in order but they do have to finish all the items.  It's visual for Ryan and it's really funny for Ashleigh but it works.



At night, they have to:
1. change into PJ's,
2. brush their teeth,
3. go to the bathroom and
4. when that's all done they have books read to them or they read to us.

In the morning, it's just the opposite, sort of:
1. get dressed,
2. have breakfast,
3. brush their teeth and
4. get their backpacks ready (that routine needs to stay in that order).

Keep it simple is my motto.

As for bed times, well, what works for us has been a gentle ratcheting back.  Thankfully, the sun setting earlier has helped in that endeavor.  Right now we're going to bed somewhere around 8:30 pm and waking up at 7 am and that's right about when I need them to get up.

On a personal note, I'm a little excited about the start of school instead of hesitant as I have been in past years. We know the routine and are quite familiar with all the goings on at the little school down the street. Also, I get 3 hours in the morning all to myself! It'll be different but I'm sure I'll figure out something to do...

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