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Happy new year! As we shake off the Christmas festivities and get back to the routine our kids can struggle.
Find out how we can support them with their emotional backpack at this time. So this week we have all been emerging from the Christmas festivities and getting back to our routines Whether that has been getting back to work and school Or if you home educate, getting back into more of a routine again. |
This is difficult for our kids.
Because often it means we’re setting more limits.
I know my kids have had more screen time than usual over Christmas so I’ve had to start saying no and place some limits around that.
Maybe we have to wake our kids or set limits about how late they’re staying up.
We have to get them up in the morning and it’s more of a rush.
Then they’re heading back into school which is such a different environment than home.
They can’t ask for snacks any time they want, they can’t come to you for help any time they need to. They have to figure things out themselves.
There are generally speaking a lot more rules, a lot more correction in school than there would be at home.
So no wonder our kids would rather stay at home in their pjs and eat snacks!
Of course they aren’t going to see the urgency of getting out the door on time.
Even if our kids enjoy school, the sudden change of gears is hard for them to adjust to.
So what can we do to support them?
What works best is if we can balance these big changes and the different environment in school with making sure our children are getting some daily connection from us.
So we back their backpack with everything they need for today - but kids also have an emotional backpack that needs filled - it is just as essential.
So here are some ideas to build some connection into your morning routine.
Special Time
Smiling, hugs, sitting down together to eat,
Silliness getting ready
Think of it as filling their emotional backpack up with connection.
And remember then that they come home from school with their emotional backpack filled up with all the feelings - expect that upset/bad temper when they come home.
Meet that with connection if you can.
A great way to do that is through Special Time - 10 mins of one to one play
You may have to set limits on their behaviour - expect the upset. It’s ok, it can be welcomed. It will help them clear out their emotional tension and the rest of the day will go better.
If your kiddo struggles with the transition back to school - expect that, plan for it, make room for feelings.
It is exceptionally hard to do all this when you are feeling exhausted and burnt out. You need to take care of your own emotional backpack too. You need an outlet for your own feelings, you need to be doing things for yourself.
Thanks for joining me. If you’re ready to get your kids listening so you don’t have to shout, and instead you can start enjoying being a parent, then get signed up to my next virtual Peaceful Parenting Masterclass.
Because often it means we’re setting more limits.
I know my kids have had more screen time than usual over Christmas so I’ve had to start saying no and place some limits around that.
Maybe we have to wake our kids or set limits about how late they’re staying up.
We have to get them up in the morning and it’s more of a rush.
Then they’re heading back into school which is such a different environment than home.
They can’t ask for snacks any time they want, they can’t come to you for help any time they need to. They have to figure things out themselves.
There are generally speaking a lot more rules, a lot more correction in school than there would be at home.
So no wonder our kids would rather stay at home in their pjs and eat snacks!
Of course they aren’t going to see the urgency of getting out the door on time.
Even if our kids enjoy school, the sudden change of gears is hard for them to adjust to.
So what can we do to support them?
What works best is if we can balance these big changes and the different environment in school with making sure our children are getting some daily connection from us.
So we back their backpack with everything they need for today - but kids also have an emotional backpack that needs filled - it is just as essential.
So here are some ideas to build some connection into your morning routine.
Special Time
Smiling, hugs, sitting down together to eat,
Silliness getting ready
Think of it as filling their emotional backpack up with connection.
And remember then that they come home from school with their emotional backpack filled up with all the feelings - expect that upset/bad temper when they come home.
Meet that with connection if you can.
A great way to do that is through Special Time - 10 mins of one to one play
You may have to set limits on their behaviour - expect the upset. It’s ok, it can be welcomed. It will help them clear out their emotional tension and the rest of the day will go better.
If your kiddo struggles with the transition back to school - expect that, plan for it, make room for feelings.
It is exceptionally hard to do all this when you are feeling exhausted and burnt out. You need to take care of your own emotional backpack too. You need an outlet for your own feelings, you need to be doing things for yourself.
Thanks for joining me. If you’re ready to get your kids listening so you don’t have to shout, and instead you can start enjoying being a parent, then get signed up to my next virtual Peaceful Parenting Masterclass.