blog post
raising responsible students: simple routines that help kids succeed in school
in this article
- how to make a routine for school success
- morning, evening and school routines that build responsibility
- free routine checklist: help kids stay responsible and organized
The start of a new school year is a great time to help your child learn responsibility. Creating routines with kids can help them to succeed in school and become responsible people. Teaching kids responsibility not only improves their time management, organization and accountability skills, but also boosts their confidence and independence.
Whether your child is starting kindergarten or entering high school, you may be wondering: How can I teach my child to be more responsible at school? Although your child’s name will be at the top of the report card, your support plays a big role in helping them develop daily routines, stay focused on assignments, and build responsible habits that lead to a successful school year.
simple routines for a successful school year
Being responsible for schoolwork means more than just remembering to study or doing homework. It also means having consistent routines and systems in place to help your child stay organized and be prepared to put their best foot forward every day in class.
Creating daily school routines (like a structured morning routine, after-school checklist, and bedtime prep) are sure to make for a positive and successful school year and reduce stress.
To make these routines stick, you can use a printable routine checklist to help remind your child of their responsibilities. This can encourage their independence while also giving them support and helpful reminders.
Here are a few simple ways to build simple routines for a successful school year.
the school night routine
Being responsible for school starts the night before. A strong bedtime routine helps avoid the stressful morning rush and sets your child up for a calm, focused start to their day. When kids take ownership of getting ready at night, it builds independence and reduces morning chaos.
Here are a few simple tasks to include in your “night before school” routine:
- Lay out clothes for tomorrow: This should also include any clothes or things needed for after-school activities.
- Plan for lunch: They should ask questions like:
- Am I buying lunch tomorrow? If so, do I need to remind someone to put money on my lunch account?
- Am I packing my lunch tomorrow? If so, I need to pack my lunch tonight and make a reminder to bring it.
- Pack the backpack: Double-check that all homework, books and papers are inside. Then make sure the bag is set by the front door (or a designated “backpack zone” in your house).
- Get ready for bed: This includes showering, brushing teeth, and doing hair if needed.
- Wind down with a book: Reading a book for 10 – 15 minutes can help calm the mind and shift into sleep mode.
- Lights out: Pick a consistent and reasonable time for lights to be out every evening.
helpful hint: Getting a good night's sleep is crucial to school success! If bedtime is a challenge in your home, check out our past blog on sleep habits for kids for helpful tips and age-based routines.
maximize the morning routine
Time to wake up and smell the bacon (or cereal)! A simple and steady morning routine will help make sure kids feel calm, organized and ready to get out the door, limiting the amount of rush or stress . It’s even more helpful when all morning tasks are done before they are allowed to watch TV or start playing with toys. This helps to avoid distractions and keep things moving.
Here are some simple tips for a successful morning routine.
- Wake up with enough time to get ready: Make sure your child is waking up with plenty of time to get ready in the morning. Some kids may do better with an alarm clock to wake them up rather than you! If you have a ‘no phone in the bedrooms rule,’ try an old-fashioned alarm clock!
- Get fully dressed- even the shoes: This will help to avoid last-minute racing around the house. If you prefer to not have shoes on in the house, you can still find them and make sure to leave them at the door.
- Eat breakfast: If your child is eating at home, having a filling breakfast will help start the day off on the right foot. Brush teeth and style hair: A quick hygiene routine sets the tone for self-care and confidence.
- Grab your backpack and lunch: Make sure everything is packed and ready from the night before, and double-check lunch is in hand if they’re not buying at school.
set-up for success after school
Responsibilities and routines don’t end when school is done. To keep a consistent habit of sticking with schedules, here are some simple tasks to include in your after-school schedule.
- Wash hands right away: As soon as you come in the house make sure to get all those school germs off those hands!
- Have a snack: Try having a bin of approved after-school snacks already prepared or set out to choose from.
- Sort and review school papers: Designate a special folder or bin for permission slips, report cards, and other documents that need a parent’s attention. This can help avoid stress and panic over last-second signatures!
- Finish afternoon chores: Helping out at home teaches responsibility. (Check out our guide to household responsibilities for kids to get ideas by age group.)
- Completing long-term homework, studying or additional reading: If there are long-term projects, it’s great to start working on them a little bit at time so there is no rush to finish at the last second.
- Create a focused homework zone: Make homework time a special, designated time for both kids and adults to sit in a common area and get work done. Turn off distractions like the TV and electronics during this focused time. Even if your child doesn’t need hands-on help, sitting nearby while they do homework or read quietly shows support. This approach keeps you available for questions, helps you stay connected to what they’re learning, and models that learning is a lifelong habit.
final thoughts to help your kids take responsibility this school year
- Be patient: Just like everything else in parenting, teaching your kids responsibility takes time, intention, and work. It’s best to start with small tasks and build upon them as they accomplish learning new skills.
- Keep it simple: Creating a system that is simple and doable will help you and your child stay on track this school year. Having these systems in place will give you solid ground to return to when life gets more hectic. Working together as a team with your kid will help lead to a successful school year!
- Remember, every kid is different: All kids learn differently and have different abilities. Set expectations based on the ability of the kid, not the age or grade level.
- Manage your expectations: If you feel frustrated because your child isn’t meeting your expectations for responsibility take a moment to reflect on your role as a caregiver. Kids can’t be expected to have responsible study skills if they haven’t been taught yet.
Get your FREE routine checklist and build better habits for school success!
Now that you know how to create effective routines, it’s time to put them into action by downloading download our Routine Checklist! This easy-to-use printable helps you and your child track important daily tasks to build a successful, stress-free schedule.
Or make bedtime a breeze by downloading a free Bedtime Routine Checklist for Younger Kids or Bedtime Routine Checklist for Older Kids!
learn more about On Our Sleeves to get even more children's mental health resources
You can sign up for our monthly newsletter and get free expert tips, easy to use mental health tools, and early access to giveaways like our Activity Book and Conversation Starter Cards.
Click the orange button below to sign up today!
