Dear Birch Families,
With school well under way, we wanted to share a few key thoughts in which we can work together to ensure your child stays healthy and regulated- both physically and emotionally at school. Here are a few of our favorite tips:
1. Establish Routines- All children thrive on routines. A consistent schedule for waking up, meals, homework and bedtime helps provide structure and a sense of security. To take it a step further, establishing morning, after-school, and bedtime routines are especially helpful.
2. SLEEP!!! We have noticed several students who appear very tired at school, sometimes even falling asleep in class. While some of this is normal in the transition from summer back to the school year, we want to encourage you to make sure that you child gets at least 10-11 hours of sleep at night. If your kiddo gets up at 6 am, this means a bedtime between 7 and 8 pm.
3. Encourage fresh air and movement- both being outside, and moving their bodies whether through organized sports, or simply playing in outside, are great ways for kids to release energy and regulate their emotions.
4. Limit Screen time- we recommend no more than 60 minutes of screen time/day for our students. Too much screen time, especially at night, leads to overstimulation, making it harder for kids to self- regulate, and fall asleep.
We are here to partner with you and set our kiddos up for a successful school year.
Enjoy the gorgeous fall weekend!
Tanya
