Posts filed under ‘#Back2School’
Preparing for Back2School: Reducing Screen Time
As the new school year approaches, it’s essential to help your children transition from summer break routines to school-friendly habits. One effective strategy is to gradually reduce screen time in the weeks leading up to the first day of school. Here’s how you can implement this change smoothly:
Gradual Reduction:
Begin by cutting back screen time in small increments each day. For example, reduce screen time by 15 minutes each day. This gradual approach helps children adjust without feeling a sudden loss of their favorite activities.
Establish Screen-Free Evenings:
Designate certain hours in the evening as screen-free times. This could be right after dinner or an hour before bedtime. Use this time for calming activities such as reading, playing board games, or engaging in quiet crafts. These activities not only help in reducing screen dependency but also promote family bonding and relaxation.
Create a Bedtime Routine:
Implementing a consistent bedtime routine is crucial. Encourage activities that help children unwind, such as taking a warm bath, reading a book, or listening to soothing music. This routine signals their bodies that it’s time to prepare for sleep, making the transition smoother.
Be a Role Model:
Children often emulate their parents’ behavior. Show them the importance of balancing screen time by reducing your own usage during family hours. Engage with them in screen-free activities and be present, fostering a healthy environment for your children to follow.
Discuss the Benefits:
Talk to your children about why reducing screen time is important. Explain how it helps them sleep better, improves their focus, and prepares them for the school routine. Understanding the reasons behind the change can make them more cooperative and willing to adjust.
Want to learn more about how to get along with your family members? Contact me – Ms. Parent Guru to receive information about my inspiring parenting programs for Mothers and Daughters, Mothers and Sons, Fathers and Daughters or Fathers and Sons.
Click Here to become a part of my parenting community.
C. Lynn Williams, #MsParentguru
Parent Coach, Author & Speaker
Dinner Time is a Great Time to Talk
Now that the school year has started, I think about the conversations that my family and I had. We didn’t have them every night, but considering how strict my parents were, our dinner time talks were pretty liberal.
They didn’t always include both parents, and the “talks” continued once my parents divorced. Usually my mother, would start the “conversation” for whatever topic my brother, sister and I, wanted to talk about. Usually it was a cross-section of just about anything from politics to what time curfew should be; most important, there were no taboo topics.
The beauty about the talks is that everybody extroverts and introverts (my brother and me) felt comfortable talking. By the way, if you have kids who don’t like to talk a lot, then you say things that are funny or related but slightly crazy, and see what your family thinks. Hopefully everybody starts laughing and all of a sudden the dinner time talking has started.
I think what I like most about conversations during meals, is that you have the distraction of eating and the conversations don’t seem as serious.
Depending on your parenting style, these conversations are a great time to learn more about your children and for them to learn about you as well, and to help you pick up on things that you will want to follow up on privately with whichever kid needs it, as well as sharing your views and family values.
There are lots of benefits to dinner time talk. At the very least, it helps you stay connected (with your kids), if you allow the conversations to flow easily. The more obvious reason is hopefully your child will more easily share concerns or issues with you, that are not easy to talk about. 🙇🏽♀️
If the best time to have a conversation with your your kids, is at breakfast, then talk at breakfast. 🥞☕️
Click Here to become a part of my parenting community.
C. Lynn Williams, #MsParentguru
Parent Coach, Author & Speaker
HOW’S YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL ROUTINE?
As the Back-to-School commercials roll on your local TV channels, you wonder where the time went. A lot is changing this fall 2021 school year.
Many school districts are replacing remote learning with in-person learning. Some are offering a mixture of both – remote on specific days and hybrid on others. Whatever school discipline you have decided, it’s time to help your child prepare for a new routine!
This week I’ll talk about a great nighttime routine to help your child get used to the routine of getting enough sleep and waking up.
Step 1: Change their bedtime.
Summer is such a welcome time for kids unless they have summer camp or part-time jobs. They get to play outside, stay up late and sleep in. Change their bedtime now instead of waiting until the weekend before school starts, so they get adjusted.
Step 2: Change their wake-up time.
This is probably a villainous move on the part of a parent, but very necessary when it comes to helping your child get ready for school. When you change your child’s wake-up time, give them a morning schedule to follow.
Make it age appropriate:
- yoga (for kids)
- make-up their bed
- write/check-off personal goals
- shower
- eat breakfast
- clean up their room
- chores you may have for them
- FUN time
Step 3: Complete any pre-Fall school assignments.
Many teachers send home assignments for their new students that must be completed and submitted either the 1st day of school or during that first week of classes. If your child procrastinates, this is GREAT opportunity to complete an assignment and have it ready to submit on time. It will make them feel good about themselves as well.
Remember to make time for fun whether it’s outside or inside.
Interested in learning more about your family’s dynamics? Contact me – Ms. Parent Guru to receive information about my inspiring parent coaching programs that help you through aging Parents, Mother and Daughter drama, Mothers and their Pampered Princes, Father and Daughter or Father and Son relationships.
Click Here to become a part of my parenting community.
C. Lynn Williams, #MsParentguru
Parent Coach, Author & Speaker
Have You Established A School Routine?
When I was in elementary and high school, my mother started preparing my siblings and me for our 1st day of school several weeks in advance. She changed our bedtimes and reduced our outside playing time to prepare us for the new school year. It didn’t make sense at the time, but the transition to school was smoother and we weren’t sleepy in the mornings. 
Once I had children of my own, having a routine, made a lot of sense. And as a former high school teacher, I could tell which students had routines at home and those who didn’t. Email me back if you want to know how I knew….
If you are dreading the first week of school and wondering how you are going to prepare for a new routine where everyone is on time to where they are going – l CAN HELP!
As a Back to School gift to all parents who are getting children of all ages back into the groove of school, I am offering you a gift of peace instead of chaotic mornings and bedtimes. To receive this gem of information, join my parent community. I promise that your contact information will be safe and is not for sale by me or anyone on my staff.
Below is a link to preschool, elementary and high school routines that I created to help you help your child get into the groove of school as easily as possible.
CLICK HERE
If your current routines aren’t working to your satisfaction, build a new set of routines this year. The routines will teach your children how to manage themselves and their time for better success in school. Have a great school year!
Interested in learning more about your family’s dynamics? Contact me – Ms. Parent Guru to receive information about my inspiring parenting programs for Aging Parents, Mothers and Daughters, Mothers and their Sons, Fathers and Daughters or Fathers and their Sons.
C. Lynn Williams, #MsParentguru
Family Dynamics Strategist, Author & Speaker
Staying Sane While Raising Your Teens 
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