3 Healthy Back to School Routines

Routines keep your kids - and you! - sane, happy, and healthy. Here are the three routines you need to jump-start your kids for school success and maintain your sanity:

Bedtime/Evening Routine. A good bedtime routine starts well before bedtime. If you set a quiet tone, your kids will quiet down, too.Give your kids at least an hour to wind down.

Give your kids a bath, read a book, and calmly talk together about the day.

Family Exercise Time. Feel like you can't fit everything in? Exercise with your family - that way you get healthy and connect with your kids all at the same time. Plus, you're setting an example for them.

This time can be as simple as a family walk or time with Wii Fit - or you can bike, hike, or enjoy another sport as a family. Choose what works for you.

Regular Meals Together. If you sit down together to eat, you're more likely to make healthier food choices than if you all grab something on the go. Make it a priority to do this at least two times a week and then commit to rearranging your schedules to make it happen.

Structure these routines and repeat them daily, if possible. Routines help your kids know what to expect and give them a sense of much needed security - which means better behavior, happier dispositions, and a calmer household.

Take the Next Step

Want to get healthy with your family? Take the fit2father pledge and we'll send you weekly strategies to get fit, eat healthier, and connect to your kids. And, you'll find out how you can participate in our fit2father walks!