1. Restart Routines. Kids thrive off of structure and routines which often change during the summertime. Start off the year right by jumping right back into school time routines. Set the alarm clock, limit technology time and aim to serve dinner at the same time every night.

2. Make bedtime earlier. Coming back to school can be exhausting! Make sure your child gets to bed extra early to ensure he/she get 8-10 hours of sleep each night.

3. Go Over Ground Rules. Decide when and where homework will be done. Be sure to cover tricky topics: Can your child watch TV after homework is finished? How late can your child play? Are videogames allowed during the week? What about chores? Establishing guidelines and going over them together will make sure you’re on the same page and limit difficult behaviors.

4. Set Up a Homework Area. Create a quiet, well-lit space where homework will be done each night. Turn off all technology so that your child can truly focus. Be sure to have materials ready such as pencils, pens, extra paper and calculators.

5. Develop a Game Plan — Together. Discuss goals for the year, successes from the year before, and some things your child would like to improve on as the year begins. Goals might include: making three new friends, completing homework independently each night or participating in class more.

We are here to help you best support your child’s needs and navigate the best next steps. Integrative Therapy and Coaching offers a FREE 15-minute consultation with our Clinical Director in hopes we can recommend resources or provide service to best support your child’s diagnosis, academic interventions and clinical support. We are known for our adolescent counseling services, integrative psychotherapy and emotion regulation therapy. We see the value in mindfulness when providing services such as family counseling in CT and Psychotherapy in CT. If you would like to learn more about our resources and the network we share, contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation!