10/13/2026
With school and extra-curricular activities in full swing, now is a great time to build a smooth fall routine for your family by maintaining schedules, getting outside, and weaving seasonal hands-on activities into the day.
☀️ Consistent Sleep Schedule & Utilize a Daylight/UV Lamp: As daylight hours shorten, it’s important to still go to bed and wake up at consistent times. Set a timer on a sunglow lamp to gradually turn on 20-30 minutes prior to wake-up time. This helps cue the body’s internal clock to start the wake-up process.
🧥 Seasonal Weather Check: Involve children in looking outside to check the cooler air and picking out a sweater, light jacket, or closed-toe shoes.
🧘🏻♀️ Decompression Break: Now that school is in session, give children 10 to 15 minutes right after daycare or school for a quiet snack, water, and unstructured rest.
🍂 Hands-On Nature Play: Spend time outdoors while daylight lasts—collecting leaves, pinecones, and other items on a neighborhood walk.
🕐 Early Wind-Down: Turn off bright lights, screens, and high-energy play at least an hour before bed.
📖 Autumn Storytime: Read a seasonal book about the harvest, changing leaves, or gratitude to signal the end of the day.
Incorporating these items into your child’s seasonal routine will help bring structure & reduce stress, so they can feel safe & capable to handle what’s next! 💙
