5 Tips from a Parenting Coach to Peacefully Transition from School to Home
We’ve all been there. You look forward to seeing your kids when they’ve been gone all day, and then the time actually comes and…total crash.
Tempers.
Tears.
Stress.
Meltdowns.
Whether you are seeing your kids immediately after school gets out or getting them from after-school care a bit later, the transition from school to home can be an intense time!
Let’s learn how parents can have a peaceful transition from school to home with these five proven strategies.
1 - Allow Time to Transition
Going from classroom to home can feel like a big change for children, so it’s normal for them to need some time to shift from school mode to home mode. Shifting from one environment to another can typically take around 10-15 minutes to acclimate.
Kids aren’t the only ones who may need a few minutes to transition! Whether you’re coming from an outside job or from managing the household, you too may find that you need a few minutes to switch from what you were doing prior to the kids getting home.
Help ease the adjustment period for everyone by adjusting expectations to allow for a few minutes of transition time instead of jumping right into whatever tasks and activities need to be accomplished.
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Shifting from one environment to another can typically take around 10-15 minutes to acclimate.
2 - Mono-Task Instead of Multi-Task
The busyness of those hours between school getting out and bedtime creates a crunch that can make us feel like we have to do a million things at once!
While it’s tempting (and, admittedly, occasionally unavoidable…) to get a couple of things done while your kids snack or unpack bags, the benefits of waiting usually outweigh getting the tasks accomplished.
Aim to set aside the first few minutes when your child gets home as distraction-free time.
This will fuel positive feelings, and the more singular focus will aid in reducing frustration and conflict on both sides of the parent/child equation. Your child won’t feel like he/she has to compete for your attention and you won’t inadvertently view your child as an obstacle blocking your way to achieving tasks!
3 - Become a Student
No, you don’t actually have to head back to school, but intentionally study what works best for you and your child(ren).
Consider both physical and emotional needs to learn what could bring more peace to your afternoon:
Does your child seem to regulate a bit after a snack? Try bringing a high protein, low- mess snack with you to pick up.
Does the mess of tossing backpacks, lunchboxes, etc. set you on edge? Establish a set zone where everything gets put immediately upon walking in the door.
Often, a simple adjustment that is customized to your unique family can have a significant impact.
4 - Find a Rhythm
Establish a routine, not to have rigid rules, but to have a flexible pattern that gives the afternoons predictability and helps manage expectations.
Knowing the basic structure of the afternoon helps save you the mental energy of making decision after decision.
Some families will thrive with an extremely detailed plan, while others will do best with just a loose outline. Don’t worry about how regimented your routine is; just find the fit that works best for your family!
5 - Coach Yourself to Think Big Picture
The focus on the after school transition can cause us to hyperfocus on just those hours, but zooming out to the bigger picture is one of the greatest keys to improving the after school crunch.
Think about what you are doing immediately prior to reuniting with your children and if there are any ways to smooth your own transition into the afternoon.
Consider the better or more challenging hours in selecting times for extracurricular activities.
Is there anything about the later evening hours that you could alter that would have a positive impact on the preceding hours?
Envisioning the school-to-home transition time as part of a bigger picture can relieve some of the pressure around this time and give helpful context to coordinating the schedule for other parts of the day and week.
It’s our human nature to need time to transition from one thing to the next, whether that’s physically, emotionally, or mentally.
These five strategies for a more peaceful transition will help make your life a little easier and your home a little more sane, but know that it’s never one size fits all. I encourage you to try some combination of these and find what works best for your family!
We love to help you connect with your child and equip you to guide them through every stage of life. If you’re looking for more parenting tips, follow Simplify Parenting on Instagram.
If you want to talk about the benefits of a parent coach and how to navigate your family’s specific situation, schedule a parent coaching session—our first call is free!
Meet the Author & Parenting Coach
I’m Tyler, and my passion is to help families create a more peaceful home, not through a set of rigid rules, but by equipping parents with the tools they need to tackle every up and down.
Click here to learn more about the benefits of parent coaching and if it may be right for you.
Tyler Drouet, MA, Ed.S
Parenting Coach & Consultant
