CLEMSON — Soon there will be no more sleeping in. No more staying up late. No more carefree days.

It’s almost time to go back to school.

Whether or not your child enjoys the return to school, most student will experience an adjustment period before and after the bell rings, according to a Clemson University expert.

Amy Milsom, associate professor of counselor education at Clemson University, said a new school year can be very stressful for students as well as parents and teachers.

To take the edge off she suggests, first and foremost, a routine needs to be established that makes the early morning structure easier to tackle.

“We all know how hard it is to come back from vacation and head straight to work,” she said. “Getting your kids back into a routine for a week (or so) is far better than trying to enforce a specific bedtime the night before school starts.”

For younger kids especially, Milsom said casual conversations will make a world of difference.

“Parents can get them excited by asking them to imagine what their day will be like,” she said. “At different points in the day, ask them what they will be doing at school.”

Set a specific time to wake up, eat breakfast and head to the bus, she added.

“If you talk about what the routine will be, they will be more receptive.”

Setting goals within the week also will help with the daily change.

“These goals don’t need to be academic,” she said. “It could be joining a new activity or making new friends. Helping kids set a goal and outlining steps to do can help them get on track from the start. It also gives them other opportunities to show success.”

And while budgets are tight, sticking to a specific plan for buying school supplies can still be fun for the kids.

“Allowing your kids to make a wish list and participate in shopping can help them own the experience,” she said. “Even something as simple as buying fun pencils and erasers can help students feel excited about returning.”

For students who can’t seem to move past that difficult adjustment period, a frustrated parent will only add to the complexity of the problem, Milsom said.

“If they get into trouble, don’t get great grades or are picked on, they aren’t going to be thrilled about going back,” she said. “A little empathy will go a long way. If a parent acknowledges that school is difficult, the child won’t be as apt to get defensive.

“Instead, say something like, ‘I know this year will go better for you, because you can control your temper when you want to.’”

Milsom urges all parents to keep an open line of communication with school officials if they know their child is a little apprehensive about returning to school.

“Oddly enough, routines take a little while to establish, but they can be disrupted very easily,” she said.