Simple Tips
Creating Fall Rhythms
At a kindergarten parent meeting, Wyatt’s teacher reminds us about the importance of rhythms at home. We can create form and movement for our days just like at school.
The idea is to have a way of doing things–playing quietly after dinner while mom and dad clean up, putting away toys before brushing teeth, setting out clothes for school, reading two stories before bed, or Kelly’s favorite–eating dinner out on Friday nights.
The teacher also talks about making sure children have breakfast before (not on the way to) school, are dressed in layers warm and cool enough for the weather, and get enough sleep. She recommends 12 hours a night for non-napping kindergartners.
Everyone gasps at that one. A dad blurts out, “If only we could make them sleep that much.”
The teacher notes that tired and/or hungry children rarely lie around on the couch–they’re often dreamy and hard to direct, or super active.
We realize creating rhythms when kids are bouncing around, or too unfocused to follow our direction it’s time to brush teeth, is difficult. Which puts us at risk for nagging and irritability.
Our days are never seamless. September gives us a chance to modify and tweak schedules to see what works better. Even starting a two year old’s nap fifteen minutes earlier might catch his sleep wave and stop a habit of teary one more book mommy demands.
And we’ll try the teacher’s last suggestion–take advantage of kids’ fatigue from these first school weeks to move up their bedtimes.
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