The transition from a summer schedule to the hectic fall frenzy can be challenging. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook has tips on how to make it easier for everyone.

As families shift from summer to fall routines, the transition can be challenging for both children and parents. Dr. John LaPook, a medical correspondent, highlights the emotional and logistical hurdles that come with the start of a new school year, including lingering pandemic-related anxiety and exposure to distressing news events. 

To ease this transition, Dr. LaPook recommends establishing daily structure, listening to children's concerns, and ensuring a sense of safety at home. He also suggests practical steps for improving sleep, such as morning sunlight exposure and reducing screen time before bed. Finally, he encourages families to appreciate small moments and focus on what they have, helping to foster resilience during busy times.

Tips to make a smooth transition to your hectic fall schedule

Did you have a tough time waking up your kid for school today if you did you were not alone I wonder what happened at our house and your house like this morning We don't know yet the transition from that lazy summer schedule to the hectic fall frenzy can be rough for them and for you at home So, how can you make things a little easier for everyone? We called in some help cheap medical correspondent. Dr. John LaPook is here Dr. LaPook. I mean, there's a lot of shifting emotion. You're sad about the end of summer You're a little worried maybe anxious about the start of school. Some kids are starting at new schools What is your advice? Yeah, you summarized it really well, and I think this is a particularly charged time right now I mean you have to name the fact that There's still a lot of anxiety Maybe even a little PTSD and a lot of us about the pandemic and then we have all this discussion about Vaccines and can you get them? Can you not get them? You've got political turmoil that kids in particular can can pick that up You know in the zeitgeist and hearing their parents talk just six days ago There was a terrible shooting where there were two Kids who were who were killed and 18 injured. I remember in the past, you know, it's something like that happened I'd be on talking about what do you do? How do you reassure now? It's so common Yeah, we don't even specifically address it. So I just think for one thing, you know parents need to for their kids set up structure I mean, you know, the kids are running around and all that over the summer maybe set up some structure People say what should I say to my children? Yeah less that listen just listen to your children Sort of you know, and it doesn't have to be let's sit down have a conversation just you know on the way back from school So what's what's going on and then don't over schedule, you know, my mother used to say go out and play Yes, so it's it's hard for different age groups to give general advice But if you could for parents who want to address the fears and the concerns of their kids What can they do to make this transition smooth? You know, I I think just What I do, I'll tell you what I did for in my family, you know, it's hard to say for it for the entire world Kids are can pick up the anxiety and you know, what's going on out there? So aside from a structure, you know having structure in the day, you're gonna go to bed at this time Giving them the sense that they're safe, you know for them. The world is a safe place, you know And I used to say to my kids, you know, what is my job? They would they would know to keep to keep us safe. And then I would have the next question, which is am I good at? My job, so I'm sort of my I like that follow me get to my car, right? Oh, yeah, my dad's competent Okay, I'm safe. The world of course is full of all sorts of terrible things But for you, I know it's a little magical but for I think for kids it's important because they They can get so anxious for you. The world's a safe place one thing that can help obviously is sleep But already we're seeing just I mean last night. I noticed how much earlier the Sun was going down How can this shift in daylight? Oh and I did a deep dive last night It's it's so I owe I'm so interested in this So as the days get shorter your circadian rhythm gets interrupted your sleep can get disrupted There are some simple things that you can do which include just getting sunlight in the morning Somehow, you know get out there even for 10-15 minutes getting that sunlight helps reset your clock and then we've all know that the blue light from screens and from iPhones can Inhibit melatonin melatonin is the hormone that helps us go to sleep So there are settings on your iPhone or on your computer that can help dampen that blue light You know things like that. I mean, I would also say although it's so hard to do put the screens down Yeah for two to three hours before you go to bed That's really tough to do in our final 30 seconds here when people hit their ground running after vacation Which was last week for a lot of folks including you. How do you how do you do it? How do you hit the ground without losing a step? Yeah, how do you do it? Right medicine is improv And you know for me, especially this time of year is very busy because people are you know, the deductibles they're trying to reset in January So everybody wants to get in there are a lot of questions right now You know, you heard Celine Gounder talking about how there's uncertainty about do I get the vaccine? Do I not get the vaccine? So I think if there was ever a time to have your own health care provider I mean, I know it's not always possible that this is the time when you have advice from one organization different from from another organization but I think basically take a deep breath and Here do this with me. This is one of my favorite things My father-in-law taught me everybody out there to appreciate the moment ready do it together, right wrists go up wrists go down. I Love my wrist. I love my wrist so specific. I have patients who can't do that I have patients who can't take a deep breath. Wait, what does that do? It's you're just saying that's a miracle That's a miracle that you can do that. It is a mirror and it's just focusing in on what you actually have as opposed to Yeah, don't have more fun if you put your hand on a steering wheel of a motorcycle and then do the wrist goes up because I think you go And you then increase the danger factor Appreciation of the moment versus danger now, okay, I'm trying to all say is this appreciate what you have a man deep breath Your father-in-law Norman Miller. Yes TV producer. Dr. John Luke. Thank you very much. Really appreciate it

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