Adjusting Back to School Routines, Sleep, and Technology
Here it is…. the traditional Labor Day weekend, the proverbial “end of summer”. For kids, the “end of summer” is marked by the first day of school. Some kids’ summer ended weeks ago, and Labor Day is just another day off school, but for others, summer will end this week as the east coast schools start their school year.
Regardless of when the school year started, we need to transition back into the routine of school. Summer affords all of us, students and parents alike, an opportunity to relax the routine a bit and recharge the batteries. But reentry into the school year can be an adjustment for everyone.
Two concerns with the return to school are sleep and time with technology. Here are 4 things to consider balancing technology, schoolwork, sleep routines, etc:
Reset the rules.
Whenever there is a change in routine, it is a good opportunity for both parents and kids to revisit the discussion around technology use, time limits, and rules. Often, the boundaries and rules slip during the relaxed nature of summer. Now is the time to open the conversation. If your child has an Apple device, consider using the Screen Time functionality native to the device to build awareness and assist in establishing boundaries and limits.
Balance homework and use of technology.
This is a great question to ask at your Back to School night: How will my child be using technology for homework? If the school has a school issued device program, the expectations might be high with most homework utilizing the device. As you work to establish screen time limits, this can often be a challenging issue. It is difficult to discern the difference in use between homework and recreation. Additionally, many kids struggle to avoid the distraction of YouTube, ESPN, social media, and online gaming when using devices for homework. It is helpful to ask the question and have a clear expectation of technology and homework. If your child is using technology for homework, consider having a central homework location to ensure the devices are being used appropriately during this time and distractions are being avoided. Here are some other questions to ask regarding technology in the classroom.
Consider the balance of technology in your child’s life.
With more and more schools moving to dedicated 1:1 technology programs, we have to consider the balance of time looking at screens not only recreationally but educationally as well. For example, my daughter who is a sophomore in high school, told me one day last week that she had been looking at her iPad for over 10 hours that day when she summed up the time in class and homework. That struck me as excessive, out of balance, and unhealthy. With the emphasis on technology as learning tools in the schools on the rise, it is more important than ever for us to stress that balance to our children. Create tech free places that require you and your child to put the devices away for 10, 15 or even 60 minutes. The two easiest places to do this are the dinner table and the car. These are the places where it is easy to enforce and have face to face conversation. They are quick and easy ways to unplug and hear about the day. Everyone will benefit.
Turn off devices an hour before your child’s bedtime.
There is no question that kids are not getting enough sleep. If you work in a school, it is obvious that kids are tired. It can be challenging to get the recommended 10 hours of sleep for 7-12 year old, with afterschool activities, working parents, homework, etc. But I strongly recommend collecting devices an hour before bedtime so your child can unwind from technology. Play a game, read a book, listen to music…. but ensure the device is out of the bedroom and that stimulating blue light is out of your child’s vision. This will improve the overall quality of sleep. It is also critical to shut down the constant group messaging that is happening by taking the phone as bedtime approaches. The number is messages kids are receiving after 9pm via group chats is staggering. Last week, one class of 6th graders said there are over 200 group messages sent between 9am and 6am on their group chat!
The end of summer can be a tough time for everyone, especially kids transitioning into new schools, new classrooms, new teachers, and new friends. I hope that these suggestions make things smoother. Good luck to all and hoping for a wonderful 2019-2020 school year!
