Establish expectations and a plan for the year

You know the saying: failing to plan is planning to fail. This is exceptionally true when it comes to kids and their routines. “Spelling out [their daily routine] in advance can make your child more comfortable and help to prevent any anxiety and disagreements as things get busy,” Kukowski says.

Some questions to start with are when your child gets home from school should they start their homework right away or are they allowed some free time to watch a TV show or read a book before getting back to schoolwork? What about transportation—will they walk, take the bus or will you pick them up? Consult with your children and let them be apart of the decision-making process. “The more kids have ownership in creating a routine for themselves and helping to set those expectations, the more likely they are to follow it,” Kukowski says.