For most of our kids, school has either started or will start in about a week. I’ve had a rocking summer with the kids, but it’s time to get settled back into a routine for the family. I am a huge proponent of routines for kids. Having one for our family has really helped calm and allay fears of the unknown, which is huge for kids with ASD.
Not that everything has to be exactly the same every day, but knowing what will happen within a time frame gives kids (and some adults too) a certain sense of calm.
I posted at the beginning of the summer about our schedule, and it really helped. Our school year schedule is a little different, but most of our appointments are the about the same time each week.
A few other things that help us keep on track during the school year:
Having grab and go lunch items at hand. In the pantry, there is a basket filled with all kinds of lunch/snack items. Crackers, cookies, squeezy pouches, fruit snacks, fruit leathers, cups of PB/other nut/seed butters, pretzels, juice boxes, etc. On the counter we’ve got a trifle bowl (I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve made trifle in the past 11 years-but… it makes a great fruit bowl), that we will with lunchbox sized fruit: apples, tangerines, and occasionally pears. I keep the bananas separate on a little hook/stand.
I also keep a stash of frozen tubes of yogurt in the freezer, and a grip of cheese sticks either pre-packaged or home-made, depending on which is cheaper, in the fridge. What’ a home made cheese stick? Buy a big block of cheese, grab a large, sharp knife and cut the cheese into hunks resembling commercially made cheese sticks. I wrap them in saran wrap and keep them in a large zip top bag in the dairy drawer.
It takes about 15 minutes to organize the lunch stuff once a week, and it saves me a lot of time each morning.
A Pretty Solid Meal Plan. I’ve posted about meal planning so many times, and honestly, it really does help. I get a lot of magazines in the mail (free of course), and most of them are cooking magazines. I try to add a new recipe into the mix weekly.
Exercise. I know this sounds weird, but, for me, exercise is my me time. We go to our local YMCA, and the kids go to child care for up to two hours. I do an hour of cardio (and catch up on email, Facebook, or bring along a book), then do weights for about 20-40 minutes. It’s a chance to focus on my body and health. Sometimes I grab my travel bag, and toss it into my gym bag with a couple towels and go take a shower after my cardio. Taking a shower without little people interrupting you is one of life’s small luxuries. Whatever makes you happy and allows you to escape a little each day, I encourage you to explore it.
Coffee. I’m one of those people that has to have coffee every day. It’s part of my daily ritual. I drink at least 30 ounces of coffee a day: hot, cold, heck even room temp., I don’t care. It can even be decaf. I set up to coffee maker before bed, and when we get up in the morning, there is a hot, fresh pot of coffee. And we don’t have a fancy coffee maker either… This is the coffee maker we have.
Giveaway: Let’s celebrate back to school! I’d love to hear about how you get back to it after school starts. Leave me a comment below and enter to win a $25 Amazon GC* here (This link may not be mobile friendly)! I’ll choose a winner on September 4th, 2018.
*Winner subject to verification of entry tasks. Winner must reside in the USA. $25 Amazon GC will be rewarded as a digital Gift Code, emailed to the winner.
Hewes Family Fun 
Our big thing is bedtimes and wake up calls. We get willy nilly with bedtimes during summer and behavior shows the effects. Its wonderful to get back to regulated time schedules.
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My 2nd grade daughter is finally at the age/maturity level to make her own lunch. The night before she is responsible (with lots of reminders from Mommy) for doing it. That is one less thing Mommy has to make sure is done in the morning when she is dragging her feet to get out the door.
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they get there clothes laid out an make sure they have every thing they need in there back pack
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My son just started kindergarten this year so its been quite a time adjusting, hes so tired all the time and grumpy! But he will even out (I hope) and figure this school thing out. I’ve been putting him to bed earlier
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We start a week before school starts on the school schedule.
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Make sure to adjust ahead of time. Transitioning in before it starts. I think going to bed earlier in increments is a nice idea to achieve so
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I love coffee! I make it with a moka.
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set early bedtimes
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they get there clothes laid out an make sure they have every thing they need in there back pack
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We keep a calendar and are on a regular sleep schedule. We pack for the next day the night before.
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i plan ahead and have lunch and clothes out
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I get back to walking to the lake after school drop off!
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We make sure everything is ready the night before.
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I get them going with the regular school schedule a week early. I also like to give them a few chores in the evening to get them used to “homework” again.
It doesn’t stop the whining though 🙂
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I lay out clothes and everything we need the night before!
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getting things all set up the night before and backpacks near the door
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We start going to bed early and getting up early about a couple weeks before school starts back
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Having a strict bedtime routine has really made a difference in my kids school year. They go to sleep at the same time each night and are ready to tackle the day each morning because they aren’t groggy. It really seems to help!
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Our family starts getting on a routine several weeks before school starts. This makes the transition much easier for everyone.
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We get back on track by having everything together ahead of time, like clothes, shoes, and lunches and have the backpack by the door with a note about anything else we need to get out of the refrigerator or whatever the last minute.
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We stick to a schedule and remain on a routine
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I like to have my children in bed early and pick out outfits the night before so the mornings can run smoothly.
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By getting back into our normal routine
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Great tips and wonderful blog!
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Try to keep a regular schedule and stick to it.
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It’s all about going to bed earlier, so they won’t be grumpy and tired for the school day.
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Meal planning & packaging everything ahead of time is a big help!
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