If the sound of your alarm clock feels more like a cruel prank than a gentle nudge, you’re not alone. The first couple of weeks of back-to-school season hit families like a ton of No. 2 pencils—whether your child is nervously starting kindergarten or breezing off to college pretending they don’t need your advice.

Suddenly, summer’s “sleep-when-you-want” schedule disappears. Instead, mornings arrive way too early, afternoons are jammed with sports practices, music lessons, and homework, and evenings are a blur of backpacks, lunch prep, and last-minute poster board runs to the store. Add in the grind of coordinating after-school activities and carpools, and it’s easy to see why families feel scrambled for those first few weeks.

The good news? It does get better. Like learning to ride a bike—or figuring out the Wi-Fi password again after vacation—it just takes a little practice, patience, and maybe some extra coffee. Here are five simple, sanity-saving ways to make the back-to-school adjustment smoother for kids (and parents, too).

Start inching bedtime back by about 15 minutes each night, starting a week before school begins. The same applies to wake-ups—shift gradually so the first day isn’t such a shock. Even if you didn’t get that jumpstart this year, it’s never too late to set a consistent bedtime routine. Your kids may groan, but everyone benefits from a little extra shut-eye.

Picture this: your child is missing one shoe, your teen can’t find their Chromebook charger, and you’ve packed the dog’s toy instead of lunch.

The fix? Prep as much as possible the night before. Lay out clothes, set backpacks by the door, and stock grab-and-go breakfast options, such as yogurt or granola bars. Some families even swear by a “launch pad” spot where everything sits overnight, ready for takeoff. When mornings run smoother, the whole day feels less like a relay race.

The temptation to sign up for every sport, club, and activity is real—especially when kids are excited to get involved. But remember: exhaustion is real, too. A good rule of thumb is one structured activity per season per child (depending on age and temperament). Build in downtime for rest, homework, or simply hanging out. Sometimes the best after-school activity is just letting them ride bikes, build Lego cities, or, yes, scroll online for 20 minutes.

Homework doesn’t have to be a battle of wills every night. Carve out a spot where kids can focus—such as a kitchen table, desk, or even a corner with a comfy chair. Keep basic supplies handy so no one has to run around looking for scissors or graph paper when the clock strikes 8 p.m. Bonus tip: keep screens and distractions at bay during homework time (and yes, that includes your phone, too). Leading by example works wonders.

Schedules are important, but so is balance. Sometimes the best way to keep kids motivated is to sprinkle in little fun traditions, such as ice cream Fridays after the first week, pajama pancakes on Saturday mornings, or a quick mid-week game night. These mini-celebrations give kids something to look forward to and remind us that school isn’t all grind—it’s also about growing, connecting, and enjoying the ride.

The back-to-school season may always be a little messy, but that’s part of its charm. Those scrambled mornings, the tired yawns in carpool, the excitement of new teachers and friends—it all settles into a rhythm before you know it. By adjusting routines gradually, keeping mornings organized, managing activities wisely, carving out homework time, and remembering to have a little fun, you’ll help your kids (and yourself) transition from summer haze to school days with fewer bumps along the way.

And if all else fails, just remember: pumpkin spice season is right around the corner.