First 5 LA’s 5 Ways to Get Back on Schedule After a Break
After weeks of late nights, travel and lots of excitement, getting
back to a normal schedule can be a challenge for both parents and
children. Here are someways to get back on track with a schedule for your family:
- Reinforce your family’s routine. Talk to your kids about their normal schedule, from the time when everyone gets up to bedtime. To ease kids into getting back on a regular routine, start a few days before school starts. Make those times a little special, such as reading an extra book while starting bedtime a little earlier than usual.
- Turn off screens. Vacation may have been a movie-fest, but getting back on track means cutting back on screen time, and turning off devices and televisions an hour before bedtime. Studies show that the blue light emitted from screens prevents the production of melatonin, which helps us fall asleep. To help kids get the sleep that they need, read a story together, talk or sing before sleep instead.
- Get back to eating healthy meals. Sure, holidays and vacations are all about indulging, but all the fat, salt and, of course, sugar may interfere with your child’s energy and ability to sleep. As soon as possible, put leftover treats in the freezer. Using the healthy eating guidelines from MyPlate, create meals with your children using lots of different colors of fresh vegetables, protein and fruit.
- Ease back into your regular routine with scheduled, quiet family time. After dinner, do an activity such as drawing or building something together. While these activities help children learn, they are also calming and can help ease children back into their regular schedule after the excitement of a break from school or child care.
- Make a daily checklist before school starts up again. Include brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast, going to school or child care, reading, and other activities. As children check off activities after completing them, they feel a sense of accomplishment and “ownership” over their regular schedule. This helps them feel safe — and helps days after a break run more smoothly!
Featured Articles
COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Alerts & Resources
COVID-19 — also known as Coronavirus — is a contagious virus that is part...
Read More
Eat Healthy, Grow Strong Resource Links
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition.gov Centers for Disease Control...
Read More
Eating Fresh
Fresh is best when it comes to picking produce — and it doesn’t get any fresher...
Read More
Discipline: Teaching the Importance of Consequences
You matter. It’s a key concept in teaching children self-esteem. It is also an...
Read More
Healthy Eating
Is your child getting everything he or she needs to grow strong? Good nutrition helps...
Read More
Child Development 101: You’re Not the Boss of Me
Animated cartoons in which a tiny mouse stands up to a big, boisterous cat are raising...
Read More
Raising a Healthy Eater
Being overweight isn’t just unhealthy. Research shows a link between early childhood...
Read More
Ages and Stages: Positive Parenting
Positive parenting is a philosophy that includes practicing mutual respect, nonviolent...
Read More
Ages and Stages: Stress — and Stress Reduction — from the Start
While stress is hard on adults, it is even tougher on little ones. Experiencing stressful...
Read More
Take a Staycation! Stress Relievers for the Whole Family
Overwhelmed and annoyed? Tired of the daily routine? Need a vacation but don’t...
Read More
Child Development 101: How to Help Infants and Toddlers Cope With Stress
By Marian Williams, clinical psychologist and lead of the Early Childhood Mental...
Read More
Happier Holidays
What matters most to your family? In the whirlwind of shopping, cooking and other...
Read More
How Healthy Eating Helps Kids Succeed
Eating fresh vegetables, fruits, and other good food isn’t just healthy—...
Read MoreWhen Families Grieve
Brought to you by Talk, Listen, ConnectAs a family, you face challenges every day...
Read More
Eat Healthy, Grow Strong: Immigrants and Their Americanized Diets
Research shows that when people immigrate to the United States, their diet changes...
Read More
Child Development 101: Sticks and Stones
Pushing, hitting, teasing, name-calling. Some may view these as typical kid behaviors,...
Read More
A Time for Time-Outs?
“They broke the door,” I announced to my spouse as we surveyed the...
Read More
Is Cellphone Distraction Weakening Your Parenting?
Mealtime: It's the perfect opportunity to connect with your children. But a recent...
Read More
Childhood Grief: Parenting Tips for Coping with Loss
The first time my kids experienced death was when their preschool teacher passed...
Read More
Portion Control
The USDA’s MyPlate takes the guesswork out of proportioning a healthy diet. The...
Read More
Creating a Disaster Plan
Ready. Set. Plan! It’s easy to forget about the possibility of a disaster striking...
Read More
Mindful Parenting and Discipline
In the 1960s it was called “Be here now,” but the idea of “mindfulness” is...
Read More
A Sure Shot: The Flu Vaccine is Safe for Pregnant Women
Even as experts predict the worst of the flu epidemic could come this month, Dorothy...
Read More
Feel More Energetic!
As any sleep-deprived parent knows, getting enough rest improves your mood; decreases...
Read More
5 Steps to Keeping Your Cool
“What’re they doing in there?” my spouse and I wondered as we...
Read More
Parenting Strategies: Solving Sibling Squabbling
If you are sick of your children fighting with each other, you are not alone....
Read More
Fitness Activities - Get Out & Play!
Balloon Volleyball Pathway Dribble Scoop It! Bottle Bowling Scarf Toss Beginning...
Read More.jpg)
New Year Means New Battle Against Germs
Most parents are all too familiar with the equation school + kids = sick days. With...
Read More
Preventing Winter Colds and Flu
There is no sure cure for the common cold, but there are lots of smart and easy ways...
Read More
Resources - Get Out & Play!
Learn more & get active! Let’s Move! The five goals of First Lady Michelle Obama's...
Read More
Yoga for All
Physically fit children do better in school, so it’s no surprise that yoga...
Read MoreRelated Articles
Supermarket Alternatives (AND MORE) in L.A. County
Whether you are missing the delicious oranges your coworker used to share at work, or hope to cut...
COVID-19: Health Insurance Resources
According to the health care advocacy group Families USA, COVID-19 has resulted in record...
Get it Done: Developmental Screenings
As a parent, you want what’s best for your child. Appropriate physical, mental and social...
Free COVID-19 Tests for All LA County Residents
All residents of Los Angeles County can now receive a free COVID-19 test, Los Angeles Mayor Eric...
Family Food Resources: Enough for All
Los Angeles County is working to ensure that everyone in the county has plenty to eat — and...
Demystifying Vaccines
Take Five with First 5 LA: Take these five steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Creating Healthy Exercise Routines During Quarantine
While the COVID-19 quarantine is a break from regular life, maintaining a schedule for your family...
DIY Homemade Pasta
Making fresh, homemade pasta is a fun, family-friendly activity that kids love doing and eating....
Demystifying Viruses
Of course, we know that the coronavirus is dramatically impacting daily life and can be lethal....
