Back to School Supplies You Didn’t Know You Needed: Slumberkins Founders Share Tips for Routines and Emotional Wellness
Put down your pencils and get ready for the best school year ever!
Pack lunches. Load book bags with supplies. Charge the learning tech. If this to-do list feels all too familiar, that’s because you’re one of the many parents and grandparents sending their kids back to school this week! At First for Women, we understand how important those school supplies are, but there is more to going back to school than just pencils, notebooks, and laptops. That’s why we connected with Slumberkins Co-founders Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen. They’re sharing their best tips for the more challenging aspects of back to school time, including bedtime routines and setting kids up for success when it comes to post-school relaxation.
How to adjust easier to those earlier wake-up and bedtimes
“As we approach the first day of school, starting to get some routines back in order in advance can really help kids have an easier transition on the actual day,” the emotional experts tell us. It all starts with good, quality sleep!
Throughout the summer, bedtime can easily become less structured. “As we get 1-2 weeks away from back to school, it’s time to start slowly bringing back your routine,” say the Slumberkins founders. “We suggest moving the bedtime up in 15-minute increments to help your child slowly adjust to an earlier bedtime. This will help with the inevitable power struggles and avoidance of an earlier bedtime, and also help them get more rest as they prepare to start waking up earlier.”
If regular bedtime activities like baths or showers and reading got pushed to the wayside in the summer, it’s time to bring those back. They’r usually a reminder for kids that we’re preparing for those routines indicative of the school year.
Want to make school routines even easier? Check out Slumberkins’ Routines Visual Schedule that can help kids plan and have a say in both their morning and evening routines as you start getting those back in line for school!
Tips for adjusting to longer amounts of time spent focusing at school.
Many students — especially the young ones! — might experience regressions at the start of the school year. “We always want to remind parents to EXPECT regressions at home,” Kelly and Callie say. “Especially when kids are doing well at school, they often hold it together in the school environment and then fall apart or have more meltdowns at home. This is because they expended so much energy keeping it all together at school and home is their safe space for ALL their feelings.”
Taking care of your child’s feelings when they get home (even the ones that are hard to hold) is vital to their emotional success. “We recommend making sure there is unstructured downtime at home and a calming corner available,” the duo continues. “If you are reading together, make sure to throw in some stories that help give kids tools to calm down so they have strategies on hand to support those big feelings when they come.”
Make conversations about big emotions like frustration even easier! Check out Slumberkins’ top-selling Flip Out Hammerhead: Tools to Cool.
“This book and hammerhead plush with a flip face is a fun and interactive way to teach skills on handling big feelings in advance of those big meltdowns,” say Callie and Kelly. “You might even find your little ones reminding you about using bubble breaths or hammerhead stomps when you get mad!”
How to set up a home environment and routine that is conducive to emotionally healthy recovery after school
Think about the ways you relax after work and your home routines conclude. Maybe you dive into a book or complete an intense nighttime skincare routine. We all have our ways of relaxing, and our kids need to learn to do the same!
“Creating a comfort corner at home is a simple and effective way to provide your child with a safe space to manage their emotions and allow them to find a sense of calm,” say the women of Slumberkins. Here’s how to set that up in your home.
“Start by choosing a quiet, cozy spot in your home where your child can retreat when they need a moment to themselves,” the duo suggests. “Add soft elements like pillows, blankets, and a few favorite stuffed animals or Slumberkins creatures to make the space inviting and soothing. Include calming tools such as sensory toys, stress balls, or a small basket of books that promote mindfulness and emotional regulation.”
From there, it’s all about encouraging your child to use that space when they feel overwhelmed, sad, or just need a break. “[This helps] them learn to self-soothe and regulate their emotions independently,” the duo concludes. “It’s likely that they have a space like this in their school, as many schools and classrooms now have them to help kids manage their emotions while in the classroom, too. This is a great way to show that home and school are both safe places to learn and take care of feelings.”
Need a jump start on your own comfort corner? Slumberkins has great resources and tools to build out your own comfort corner with posters, backdrops, and flashcards!
Happy back to school season to all! Here’s to another successful year of learning.
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