As summer winds down, Brock University Professor of Educational Studies Michael Savage is encouraging parents to help children ease back into school routines.
Savage, who has experience in both education and clinical psychology, says the transition is especially important for families whose children had a more relaxed, unstructured summer. While downtime offers real benefits, he stresses that an “all-or-nothing” approach is unhelpful.
He recommends gradually shifting bedtimes, encouraging educational games, reading together, and reconnecting with school friends to prepare for September.
He also emphasizes balancing fundamentals with free play, noting that safe spaces, supervision, screen time, and financial factors all play a role.
Savage says the goal is to keep children engaged in unstructured play while also building healthy routines that will give them a strong start in the classroom.
(Written by: Brandon Warby)