Transitioning from summer “looseness” to a more structured fall routine can be difficult. Even homeschooling families need to orchestrate a shift in routine as they go from a summer break schedule to hitting the books again.

Here are a few suggestions for transitioning from summer to fall:

1. Make memoirs of favorite summer activities

Encourage your kids to help you make a list of all of their favorite summer memories. Gather together any special momentos and assemble together a memory box so that the kids can open the box and relive summer memories.

2. Go on one more trip together

Go ahead and get the family together for one more trip. Maybe even just a day trip. How about a picnic at the park or an afternoon at the beach one more time. A last trip to an amusement park is a great “last hurrah.”

3. Institute Family Game Night at your house

Let kids know that even though summer is coming to an end family fun can continue all year long. Start a “Family Game Night.” Designate a night and take turns choosing the games. This is a wonderful thing to instill in your children while they are young.

4. Remember the books read over the summer

Make a list of all of the books that the kids remember reading this summer. Let them choose their personal favorite from the list.

5. Buy school supplies together

I know…taking kids along on a shopping trip is not the most fun thing to do. But taking the kids along can be an opportunity to generate excitement about school. The first day of school is all about organizing the school supplies.

6. Start getting up early again

If your kids sleep later in the summer, one of the biggest struggles can be getting used to waking up early again. Start setting the alarm for wake up time at least one week before school actually starts.