Summer is almost over! That means the back-to-school season is upon us, and it’s almost time to transition from late mornings, vacation, summer camp, and unstructured fun, to early mornings, homework, and regular bedtimes. Getting back into the swing of things can be challenging for both kids and parents, but with a few simple tips you can make the transition a lot easier so that your kids start the school year off on the right side of the bed.
Start Adjusting Bedtime Gradually
If your kids have gotten used to staying up and sleeping in a little bit later than they do during the school year, you’ll want to start gradually shifting their bedtime back to normal a few weeks before school starts. If you do this, your children will have time to adjust to going to bed early and getting up early again, and they won’t be cranky messes when you wake them up for the first day of school.
Is It Time to Replace Their Mattress?
Another thing to consider, as you get your kids ready to head back to school, is what they’re sleeping on. If your child’s feet are hanging off their bed when they sleep at night or if they tend to sleep with their knees bent to avoid hitting the footboard, it’s passed time to get them a new bed and a new mattress.
When you buy their new bed, don’t just pick the one that looks the coolest or costs the least; instead, do some online research first. A mattress that’s supportive will help them get better sleep so they’ll be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning for school. Most pediatricians recommend a medium to slightly-firm mattress to encourage good bone growth and spinal alignment.
You might also want to consider a mattress made with copper bonded textiles like the ones offered online at Amore Beds. Copper has numerous healing properties, and it’s a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial agent. So, when your child brings home all those first-day-of-school germs, their mattress will actually fight bacterial growth and infestations, which is great news if you want everyone in your family to stay healthy throughout the school year.
Get Your Kids Involved With Back-to-School Preparations
Now, you could go shopping for all their back-to-school supplies on your own, but taking your kids with you and making them a part of getting ready to head back to school is a great way to start the transition. Let them pick out the folders, pencils, and notebooks that they like best so that they can start to get excited about using them when they go back to school. Do the same with their back-to-school clothes shopping, and you’ll be on your way to a really successful first day back in the classroom.
As you include your kids in preparations to start school, try to inject a little bit of excitement into everything you do. Ask them if they’re excited about seeing their new friends, what subjects they’re most looking forward, what’s making them nervous, and more. Then you can address any worries and help them sleep better at night as the first day of class approaches.
All in all, sleep is one of the most important factors for a child’s health and wellbeing, especially when making a transition like going back to school after summer vacation. So, as you make this transition, pay close attention to your children’s sleep schedule and make sure that they’re sleeping on quality mattresses so that they can get the best sleep possible before starting the new school year. And, if you need any help with getting a new mattress for one or more of your children, don’t hesitate to check out your options for buying an Amore Beds mattress online.
Sources:
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/choosing-starting-school/back-to-school/6-parents-tips-smooth-back-to-school-transition#slide-6
http://www.med.nyu.edu/child-adolescent-psychiatry/news/csc-news/2015/tips-successful-back-school-transitions
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/back-to-school-tips/