The kids are back in school, and new routines are settling in. With busy schedules and early mornings, this time of year can be both exciting and exhausting—for everyone! As your family adjusts, here are five simple ways to help your kids unwind after the school day.
1. Offer a Snack - Kids often come home from school tired and hungry. A nutritious snack can help refuel their bodies and stabilize their mood. Try things like apple slices with peanut butter, crackers and cheese, or a handful of trail mix. These colorful melamine cups make colorful, happy little snack holders.
2. Read - Reading is a gentle way for kids to unwind and shift gears, offering a calm, low-pressure space to rest and imagine. Whether it’s a favorite chapter book, a cozy picture book, or a comic, reading helps them reset after the structure of the school day.
3. Draw - Creative expression through drawing gives kids a quiet outlet to process their thoughts and feelings. Set out some paper, crayons, markers, or colored pencils and let them create freely—no rules or assignments.
4. Listen to Music - Music helps regulate emotions and creates a peaceful vibe at home. Make a playlist of calming or fun songs your children love, and let them relax, dance with a playsilk, or just listen while doing something low-key.
5. Play Quietly - Sometimes kids just need a little space to be in their own world. Quiet play—like with blocks, puzzles, or imaginative playsets—gives them a chance to relax, feel in control, and get creative.
In the rush of everyday life, these quiet moments of calm are little gifts you share with your kids—and with yourself!
