Once you find the right blackout shades and the best breeze summer sleep can be so amazing for sleep! We all can enjoy the slumber after a day at the beach crashing in waves or a after a shaded hike in New England. But camps are winding down, swim team is behind us, and the sun is setting earlier. It also turns out that ice cream isn’t a food group (don’t tell my kids). You all know what this means….school is starting soon!
When children aren’t sleeping well, they’re not just tired, but running on empty. Lack of sleep can make it harder to manage big emotions, control impulses, pay attention, solve problems, and cope with changes in routine. In other words, all of those wonderful skills we hope our children bring into the classroom on the first day can be much harder to access when they’re exhausted. A well-rested child is more likely to be ready to learn, follow directions, make new friends, and enjoy the excitement of a new school year. Let’s give teachers one of the very best first-day gifts we can, classrooms full of well-rested kiddos who are ready to learn.
Client story
“As parents we can relate to needing to get back on track. When our daughter doesn’t sleep well we know it! She definitely isn’t as pleasant to be around. So when it came time to get back to her normal sleep schedule we reached out to Kelsey immediately (she had helped us initially with our youngest). For 5 year old Caroline, the small changes made a big difference and Kelsey was really able to help us prepare Caroline to hit the ground running with kindergarten and have great sleep schedule from day one”
Mom of 5 year old
Here are some tips you can start doing tonight to prepare for the start of a new school year:
- Gradually adjusting your child’s bedtime (similar to time change). Adjust bedtime and wake times by about 10 minutes per day. My favorite alarm clocks are using the Hatch Rest for your toddlers and preschoolers and the Hatch Restore for the big kids and adults.
- Help children wind down through meditation. It can help those with first-day jitters. Kids that are maybe not used to doing any type of meditating you can look into a device called the Zenimal and this is a screen free meditation device, which is key when you’re doing things at bedtime, that helps teach younger children how to shut off their brain. Use code nestedsleep for discount!
- Morning routines! Talk through and ask your child what they need to do in the morning such as getting up, going to the bathroom, brushing their teeth, etc. That is going to help them know what they need to accomplish in the morning and just move throughout the routine with ease. Also consider a visual routine chart such as this one! And don’t forget it also starts with the parents morning routines getting on track too!
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps). Children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours. Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours. Adults should sleep 7 or more hours per night.
As you prepare for a new school year, remember that it doesn’t take a complete overhaul to make meaningful progress. A few small changes now can lead to smoother mornings, happier bedtimes, and a more rested family when that first school bell rings.
And if you’re feeling stuck, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Whether you’re navigating early morning wake-ups, bedtime battles, or a sleep schedule that’s drifted a little too far this summer, I’m here to help.
I’d love to learn more about your family’s sleep goals during a free 15-minute discovery call. Together, we’ll talk through your biggest challenges, answer your questions, and see if my sleep support is the right fit for your family.
Here’s to a school year filled with confident mornings, peaceful bedtimes, and plenty of restful sleep. I can’t wait to help make your nest a rested one!
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