A Back-to-School Essential

It’s nearing the end of August, which means one thing: school is about to start back up. There’s a lot that goes into getting kids ready for school. 

A lot of money goes into it. It’s estimated that this year, Americans will spend nearly $43.3 BILLION on back-to-school shopping. 

A lot of time goes into it. There are class schedules to figure out. Lunches to pack. Supplies to organize. Teachers to meet. Open houses to attend. Laundry to do. 

And then there’s the reality that you have to get kids and teenagers to forsake their summer habits of staying up (and waking up) late every day. 

But for as much work that goes into getting kids ready for school, the start of a new school year is a great time to do a reset on family rhythms. Think of it as New Year’s Day 2.0—a chance to recommit to some of the things you wanted for your family back in January, but maybe neglected as the weather got nicer and the days got longer. So, what are some rhythms your family should start or restart as this school year starts?

Prioritize mealtime. In my experience, food makes just about everything better, and kids seem more likely to talk about what’s going on over a meal than they are during a car ride home from school. I’m not saying that every mealtime should be filled with deep, meaningful, and spiritual conversations. Sometimes dinner needs to be spent making jokes, playing “would-you-rather,” and telling stories. Mealtimes—especially dinner—are great opportunities to not just have conversations, but to build a family culture of caring for one another, encouraging one another, and enjoying one another. What would it look like for your family to prioritize sitting around the table for at least one meal each day? And if each day isn’t possible, how about three to five times a week? And if that’s still not possible, maybe it’s time to evaluate your calendar and see if you have your priorities in the right order. 

I would be willing to bet that if your family committed to having mealtimes together on a regular basis, you’d see growth in unity in your family and enjoyment of your family. 

Prioritize bedtimes. This is something my parents did really well. All throughout my childhood, I remember our family gathering together before bed, taking prayer requests for ourselves and others, and then praying together. Sometimes a kid would pray, sometimes a parent would pray, and sometimes we prayed more liturgical prayers—like the Lord’s Prayer— out loud together. After prayer, we’d all take turns giving mom and dad a hug, my dad would sit me in his lap and say “You’re the greatest son in the world,” (which I’m sure he definitely didn’t say to my older brother) and we’d go to bed. I’m sure there were nights this didn’t happen—and I’m positive there were nights this didn’t go smoothly—but it happened consistently enough that it’s set in my head as a rhythm we had. 

Your kids will go to bed every night. What would happen if you started seeing bedtime not just as something to rush or power through so you can have some peace and quiet, but as an opportunity to shape your family. What if getting your kids to bed wasn’t something they thought you hated, but something you cherished. What if it was a time when they get to pray with you, read with you, recite Scripture with you, and hear that you love them while you show that you love them? 

Prioritize Sundays. We could go into a biblical and theological defense of why we shouldn’t neglect the gathering of believers—in fact, we have done so and will again. But let’s talk about it practically for a moment. What does it speak to your children when you say—and back up with action—that you start each week with God’s people, sitting under God’s Word, and worshiping God Himself? They start to actually believe that love for God, devotion to God, and worship of God are the most important things in life. There is an ever-growing temptation to make Sundays about you, your rest, and your enjoyment as you end a weekend and start another work and school week. But what if your kids started to see and experience that what was best for someone, their rest, and their enjoyment was prioritizing being with the people of God?

These are just three simple rhythms that you can implement as you start a new school year in your home. But they are three simple rhythms that can have a lasting impact on your family. If you want to take another step in creating family rhythms, check out our Family Rhythms Guide. 

It’s my hope and prayer that this year wouldn’t just be about helping your kids succeed in academics, sports, music, or any other activity but that this year—through the rhythms you establish in your home—that your kids would come to a greater love and understanding of our Savior.