School to summer: keeping a routine

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The happy, lazy days of summer are here! That means No more strictly structured school schedules.

But, switching gears from all of that to the more care-free days we're in right now can be a little tricky. Experts say our kids get used to routines and that school routine has been in place for months.

During this transition, we need to keep a couple of things in mind — including sleep habits.

Tabitha Olzinski is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She's also a mom.

Olzinski said, "You don't need to get them up at 6 a.m. every morning, unless you have somewhere that you need to go."

She said letting the kids stay up until all hours of the night and sleeping in can also cause problems.

She said, "That's going to disrupt their sleep habits and that's going to mess up everything else along the day, too."

She said that disruption of sleep habits can lad to a disruption of eating habits and finally a disruption of their mental abilities.

That can lead to behavior problems.

Olzinski said it's normal for our children to be a little cranky or act out some right as they adjust to summer.

She says we should pay attention to what they eat, especially when it comes to snacks. In school, they are used to having a snack at a certain time — their bodies are used to that!

If they don't get it, their blood sugar drops and that can affect their behavior.

Also, if your kids are transitioning to a day-care routine for the summer, it's a good idea to get a copy of the daily schedule, so you can prepare them.

If they're old enough, talk through the day with them.

Summer often means new activities! If you're going to expose your kids to some new things, they may take some getting used to.

Olzinski says it's always a good idea to schedule in some down time.

For more summer routine ideas, click here .