The final days of sleeping in before school starts.

Angela Verges | Contributor

The lazy days of summer are winding down. It’s time to get the kids back into a school routine. No more late night texting, sleeping in the living room in front of the T.V., or sleeping in until noon.

Getting in the groove again may require a little advanced planning. For instance, start getting the kids into a routine a couple of weeks before school starts. Reestablish bed times and house rules.

At chocolatecakemoments.com, one mom sits her kids down at dinner and discusses expectations for the school year. She also makes a chart of what the kids need to do before bed and in the mornings before school.

What tips can help you have a smoother transition from summer to back to school?

Even though summer is almost over, parentfurther.com says, “Continue to have fun with your kids. Set aside time each week to spend as a family having fun together.”

The article gave tips for parents based on the age of their children. Some of the tips include:

Parents with children ages birth to 5
• When possible, keep young children on the same daily routine whether they are going to preschool or not. “This helps to keep their energy and moods at an even keel.”

Parents with children ages 6 to 9
• Help your child look forward to going back to school. Purchase a “lucky folder or pencil” for him to keep track of homework.
• Talk to your child about the fatigue that can happen during the first week back after a long break. Encourage her to take a short nap after school if necessary.

Parents with children ages 10 to 15
• “Help your child name what he likes best about school.” Even if it starts out only with lunch and recess, that’s ok. “As the school year progresses, see what subjects begin to interest him.”
• “Admit that some parts of school are hard.” If you didn’t like the middle school years, be honest. “Talk about how much better high school is. That often helps kids to stick with the hard stuff.”

Parents with children ages 16 to 18
• “As older teens become more independent, they may become more resistant to school. Continue to emphasize how important a high school education is and why. Show teens that the more education they acquire, the more money they make.”
• “Focus on the parts of school your teen enjoys.” Remind him of the basketball team, the drama club or another activity that he gets excited about.

The tips above are just a few of the ways to ease the tension of getting the kids back in a routine for school. What things have worked for you as you try to get the kids into a routine to go back to school?

Angela Verges is a writer and mother of two. She can be reached at awritersdream41@yahoo.com.