Summer hit, and our routine went out the window

With the start of summer, comes a disruption to our schedule and routine. This is okay! But we also have some signs to look out for if things have gotten completely out of control.

Sprinklers are on, popsicles are being consumed, friends are over, empty pizza boxes litter your kitchen table and you’re having too much fun to ask your child to go to sleep. We get it! It’s lightout at 7pm, the warm air and sounds of summer are nostalgic and bring utter joy. The end of school (and start of summer) often brings a disruption to the schedules and routines we’ve worked so hard to establish.

Maintaining flexibility around bedtime is okay during the summer months. We all do it. Remember, you will come back to your routine eventually (ahem…the start of school). That being said, here are 3 signs to look for if things have gotten completely out of control.

1. New or worsening behavior challenges pop up around bedtime.

Know your child and their bedtime behavior. Some kids put up more of a fight than others, summertime or not. When you tell your child it’s time for bedtime, the usual groan (“mooooooooommmmmmm”) is totally acceptable. However, if you begin to see tantrums or refusal to go to bed, it might be time to tighten the routine (which doesn’t necessarily mean an earlier bedtime) and reinstate your limits around bedtime.

2. Your child stops falling asleep on their own.

We’ve heard it and we’ve experienced it. Most of the school year, your child was able to fall asleep on their own. Now, all of a sudden, you’re sitting with them until they fall asleep, getting more frustrated with each toss and turn. Remember, falling asleep independently isn’t only an important skill, but it’s an essential one. Making sure your child can do this is one of your great responsibilities as a parent. You’ve heard us say it before, but learning to fall asleep at 8pm is a whole lot easier than learning at 2am.

3. Camp calls to report challenging behavior during the day.

If you start to get phone calls from camp about your child acting out or displaying behaviors that aren’t usual for them, this might be a sure sign that they’re overtired. Behaving great at camp and a mess at home, however, is totally normal.

Now, here are 3 tips to help keep things going smoothly. If you’ve been here before, these might sound familiar.

1. Don’t throw your limits out the window. You can be flexible with bedtime but still have limits. Remember, these limits serve as guardrails for our children. A world without limits is scary. If you usually do a bath, 2 books, and bed, keep that routine, even if it’s a bit later than normal.

2. Maintain basic universal sleep routines. For example, stay off technology in the hours before bedtime, give time to wind-down before bed, and ensure that you have appropriate shades/curtains to keep the room dark (especially important during the summer months).

3. Prepare for the return to school (and routines) earlier than you think. As summer comes to a close, give yourself plenty of time (in some cases, this can take weeks!) to get back to your routine with your kids. You’ll be very happy you did this, when the school year hits. Plus, it will be less of a shock to the system for both you and your kids.