It is that time of year again! The leaves are falling, the weather is cooling off, and kids are heading back to school. As caregivers, we want to ensure that our kids have a smooth transition into the school routine. Thinking of the different times in the day, each comes with its own set of challenges. So, let’s work on creating strategies for the different times of day and create opportunities together! 

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Morning Routine for Kids

Here are some tips to help make the back-to-school and morning routine go smoothly. One way to help ease the back-to-school transition is to start the routine a few days before school starts. This will help your child get used to the new schedule and help you avoid any last-minute scrambling. 

Get organized the night before

Lay out clothes, pack bags, and put everything by the door so it’s ready to go in the morning. This will help your child feel more prepared and ready for the day ahead. 

Wake up with enough time to get ready at a relaxed pace

Rushing around in the morning can add unnecessary stress to the day for everyone. It also sets us up for a successful day when we feel in control of our morning routine by having adequate time.

Start the day with a positive attitude

Greet your child with a smile and avoid negative talk about the day ahead. One great way is to introduce a healthy listening routine with a short Moshi Moment. One of our favorites is Morning Rise and Shine with Chirpy.

Encourage your child to take some time for themselves in the morning

Whether reading, listening to music, or just taking a few deep breaths, this time can help them start the day on a calm and positive note. Moshi has some soothing music available that could set a calm tone to provide that needed peace in the morning. 

Adding calming music and short meditations to a usual morning routine will encourage your child (and the entire family) to have some fun! The morning routine doesn’t have to be all work and no play. You might be surprised at how easy waking your child might become if they are excited to start the day on the right Moshi track (excuse the pun). 

After-School Routine for Kids

The first day of school is always exciting for kids and parents alike. There is a sense of new beginnings and possibility in the air. But as the novelty of the new school year wears off, it can be hard to keep up the same level of excitement and motivation day after day. That’s why it is essential to establish some good after-school routines to help make the transition from summer break to the school year a little smoother. Here are a few tips to help you get started: 

Get organized

One of the most important things you can do to help your child adjust to the new school year is to organize them. This means creating a space in your home where they can do their homework, keeping track of important dates and deadlines, and helping them to develop a daily or weekly routine. A visual schedule would be ideal here, where you indicate to your child what is required of them each morning, afternoon, and evening. A short checklist of activities and requirements could help as a reminder and a visual reinforcement of working towards something that “will end,” instead of “what else do I need to do.” 

Make time for homework

Homework can be a significant source of stress for both kids and parents. But it doesn’t have to be. One of the best ways to avoid homework battles is to ensure time is set aside each day for homework. If possible, try creating a quiet and distraction-free environment for homework. Moshi has focus music that is perfect for homework time, like Unicorn Concentration Chill and Dodo Deep Focus Lounge. After-school activities for kids should include mindfulness time to restore and regain a sense of calm. 

Encourage healthy habits

The start of the school year is a great time to encourage healthy habits like regular exercise, eating a nutritious diet, and getting enough sleep. These habits will not only help your child do their best in school, but they will also help them to feel their best. You can create fun “quests” such as “aim for 8 hours of sleep to be the best version of me” and “healthy body, healthy mind.” If you have more than one child, you can always instill a bit of healthy competition to encourage completing tasks to gain access to specific outings of their choice. 

Take breaks

It is important that kids take breaks throughout the day to move their bodies and rest their brains. This could mean going for a walk or bike ride after school, playing outside, or taking a few minutes to do some stretching or deep breathing exercises. Moshi Moments and Meditations can help kids decompress after school. According to Koncz et al. (2021), a short story-themed mindfulness activity could improve a child’s ability to be less stressed, improve their working memory, and contribute to their academic performance. 

Make time for fun

In addition to academics and healthy habits, after-school activities for kids should also be fun. This could mean planning regular family outings, letting your child choose a new hobby to try, or simply spending some time each day doing something they enjoy. They can also gain frequent access to these hobbies and activities with the chores they check off their visual schedule. 

Connect with your child

One of the best ways to support your child during the transition back to school is simply being there for them. Listen to their concerns, help them problem-solve, and let them know you are available to talk anytime. In our home, we listen to a Moshi Meditation as a family every evening. It has been a remarkable experience to connect with my partner’s children and provide our home with a sense of calm and tranquility for at least parts of the day. 

The start of the school year and finding motivating after-school activities for kids can be challenging. But by getting organized, establishing some good after-school routines, and making time for both academics and fun, you can help your child make a successful transition back to school. 

Back-to-School Night Routine for Kids

It is also time to say goodbye to late nights and lazy mornings and hello to early back-to-school night routines and early wake-ups. If you are struggling to get your little ones to stick to a bedtime routine as the school year begins, Moshi Stories can help. 

Moshi Stories are short bedtime stories perfect for kids who struggle to wind down at the end of the day and perhaps find the back-to-school night routine a bit anxiety-provoking. Moshi is available on Alexa, so you can play them through your Echo device or connect them to Bluetooth speakers and listen together as a family without needing to keep a device nearby when your child is falling asleep. 

Here are a few of our favorite Moshi Stories to help get your kids to sleep: 

Close Your Eyes SleepyPaws

This is a wonderful way for your child and you to fall asleep. It is one of my favorites as it sets me on a lovely journey toward dreamland. I would highly recommend it to all parents, especially those who want a great night’s rest.

Goldie and the Tree of Mindfulness

Another favorite of mine where Goldie Hawn tells a story of her Moshling friend’s ascent of an enchanted tree and its wonderful branches of mindfulness.

Tick-Tock Ten Minute Bedtime

A short bedtime story with a calming tickety-tock sound of Holmes the Clockity Wockity and Mini Ben the Teeny TickTock. I am almost sure you will like this one too!

These are just a few of the many Moshi Stories that can help your kids wind down at the end of the day and get a good night’s sleep. You can find more stories by searching for “Moshi Stories” in the Alexa app. All transitions take time, and you are doing a great job in finding strategies that could help your child and family. With any back-to-school night routine, consistency and perseverance are always crucial. So keep at it! 

Most importantly, pat yourself on the back for reading through a “Back-to-School Routine” article. You are already preparing and setting your child and family up for success. Now, take some time for yourself and perhaps put those headphones on and “try out” a few Moshi stories before a much-deserved nap. 

Koncz A, Köteles F, Demetrovics Z, Takacs ZK. Benefits of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention upon School Entry: A Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 30;18(23):12630. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312630. PMID: 34886358; PMCID: PMC8657276.

Karla Pretorius

A registered counselor with a MA in Psychology. Co-founder: AIMS Global & Leadership at: Augmental