It is time for the yearly shift in schedules for the whole family. It is back-to-school time and that means the “lazy” days of summer are over. Of course, it was just the kids who were being lazy. You still had to work and manage the family. Now, everyone gets to refocus attention on academics. Here’s how to get everyone ready for school:

Shift Bed Times

The week before the official first day of school is when you should be shifting the bed times back to “school nights.” Not only should the kids got to bed earlier but they should also start waking up earlier as “practice” for the real thing. And snooze alarms should be banned. That’s just asking for trouble. For the record, elementary and middle school students should be clocking around 10 hours of sleep while high schoolers should be getting at least eight.

Plan Out Breakfast

How often do you skip breakfast? You might be able to grab something at work but kids don’t have that luxury at school. This is why they need a hearty breakfast that includes whole grains, fruit and low-fat milk. You want to try and avoid the sugary cereals or syrups.

Remind Them to Wash

Kids that are going back to school are going back onto the frontline of “germ warfare.” You know the colds are coming. Time to remind the kids to constantly wash their hands. You should get into the habit of giving everyone hand sanitizer when they get into the car at pickup time.

Keep Up Family Time

Just because school is back in session doesn’t mean you should give up on family time. Family dinners, game nights and weekend outings should all still be kept on the schedule. Everyone can use the break!

Create a Clean Homework Zone

There should also be a designated homework zone in the house that is clean, well lit and quiet. It will help to have a designated time for the homework that is consistent every day. The big thing to avoid is the Sunday night scramble to read 100 pages and write a book report!

Getting ready for school also means clearing out the clutter from closets, bedrooms and that homework zone. This is where Junk King Albany can be a help. One session with these professional junk haulers can have all the unwanted items, big and small, removed from your home for good. Going back to school, the whole family will appreciate living in a junk-free house. Let Junk King Albany help make that happen today.