We’re excited to kick off a new parent support series written by Sierra Greenwood, a licensed professional counselor and Mental Health and Behavior Support Coordinator at Abilene ISD. In each post, she’ll share practical tips to support students at home and set them up for success at school.
Happy 2025-26 school year! As both a mom of three and a school employee, I know the start of a new year can feel exciting… and exhausting. New teachers, new classrooms, new schedules–it’s a lot for our kids to adjust to. The good news is, what we do at home makes a big difference in how ready they are to learn once that first bell rings.
Two of the most important things we can give our children are rest and routine–that means a consistent bedtime rhythm that helps them get the sleep their brain needs.
Why Bedtime Routines Matter
Developing brains learn best with consistency. Predictability communicates safety and security to the brain and creates some extremely beneficial habits. Sleep is fuel for the brain. When kids are well-rested, they can focus, regulate their emotions, and handle the ups and downs of the school day. When they’re running on empty, everything feels harder, for them and for us.
A solid bedtime routine doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, kids thrive on simple, predictable patterns. A good rhythm might look like:
Wind down with calm activities. Reading together, coloring, or even a warm bath sends the signal that it’s time to shift gears.
Keep it consistent. Try to have the same bedtime and wake-up time every day, even on weekends if possible. The more predictable, the smoother mornings will be.
Set the stage. Dim lights, soft voices, and a screen-free environment all help the body prepare for good sleep.
Screen Time
I’ll be the first to admit: in my own house, screens can sneak in more than I’d like. Tablets, phones, and TVs are easy entertainment, and regulation especially when we’re all tired. But when kids spend too much time on screens—especially close to bedtime—it affects their sleep cycles and their ability to stay focused in class.
Create a “no-screens-before-bed” rule. Try to turn off devices at least an hour before bedtime. Blue light tricks the brain into staying alert instead of winding down.
Encourage other activities. Family board games, puzzles, or reading together can become your go-to wind down activities.
Model it ourselves. Our kids notice when we’re scrolling at night. Putting our own phones away shows them we’re in it together.
Progress, Not Perfection
Even with the best intentions, evenings aren’t always picture-perfect. In our home, some nights are full of family dinners and meaningful conversations. Other times, our evenings involve fast food, after-school practices and activities, and a dance between weekend consequences and sibling wrestling matches.
So, as we get back into the swing of school, here are some tips for setting intentions:
Could we simplify our evenings in small ways?
Could screens stay out of bedrooms?
Could reading together become part of our nightly routine?
Small steps add up. And your child’s teacher (and your child’s brain) will thank you.
Sierra Greenwood is a Mental Health and Behavior Support Coordinator at Abilene ISD. As a licensed professional counselor, she partners with students and staff to create positive, supportive learning environments. Sierra approaches student behavior through a mental health lens, recognizing that every action is a form of communication. By uncovering the “why” behind behaviors, she helps identify challenges, reduce barriers, and develop strategies that enable students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.