As summer winds down and the first day of school approaches, it’s time to transition from beach days and lazy afternoons to early mornings and homework. But fear not! With some planning and preparation, you can make the back-to-school transition smoother and less stressful for you and your children.
In this blog post, we’ve gathered 25 genius tips to help you prepare for the new academic year. From organizing study spaces to establishing routines, these tips are designed to set your child up for success and make your life a little easier. So, whether you’re a seasoned parent or sending your little one to school for the first time, keep reading to discover how to make this back-to-school season the best one yet.
Read, Read, Read
Encourage older kids to read throughout the summer to keep them sharp. For younger learners, read with them to help them prepare for the school year ahead.
Shopping: Let the Kids Call the Shots
Shopping for school supplies is likely nerve-racking for you but an exciting time for kids. Take them with you so they can pick out the items they like. This will get your kids into the spirit and will allow them to express themselves with the supplies that they have chosen.
Prepare the Night Before
The more you can do the night before a day full of learning, the better. This will take some stress off of you and make mornings less chaotic. Having lunches packed, backpacks zipped and ready to go, and outfits picked out are all great ways to prepare.
Party Time
New teachers, classroom dynamics, and subjects to learn might be making the little ones anxious. Throw a back-to-school party and give supplies in the goodie bags. You can ask parents of the guests to all bring an item. Assign one to buy pencils, another to get erasers, and another to buy folders, etc.
For the Homeschoolers
Kids enrolled in public and private schools are often given a list of things they will need for the year, which helps and makes shopping difficult. If you are homeschooling your kids, you get to make the rules. This means you should buy many items you know they will need in January when school supplies are at their cheapest. Parents with kids attending traditional school can do this too, as you know what staples are required yearly.
Plan Family Time
Getting caught up in all the hustle and bustle is easy once classes and extracurriculars start. Make sure to schedule some family time so that you can all check in with each other. A game night or a movie night is ideal.
Don’t Let the Kids Get Blindsided
Anxious kids are typical this time of year. If they will be in a new school, take a tour, plan a meet and greet with teachers, and practice drop-offs and pick-ups so that you’re little one will know what to expect.
Designate a Homework and Study Area
Set a child up for success by specifying a space for study and homework. We prefer it be in a public area in the home so they can ask questions if they need help, and so you can ensure that they are staying on task. But a desk in a bedroom is also a great solution.
Shower Teachers with Supplies
Many teachers have a classroom wishlist, but you can call them and ask specifically what you can contribute. Teachers are so undervalued in our society. Make them feel special by getting them a little something. A gift card to a local coffee shop or bookstore would be great.
Engaging Toddlers
For those too young for pre-school, start them early. Create fun and engaging activities that are also educational so that they have a leg up when it’s their time to attend.
Every Backpack in Its Place
Have a designated area for backpacks to live. After homework, instruct your child to pack up all the things they will need for the following day and to put their pack in the same spot so it’s ready to go in the morning. A hook on a wall works wonders, but it’s more about getting your kid into the habit than needing to install anything.
Nutritious Lunches
You have to feed those growing brains! It’s easy to throw pre-bagged snacks into a lunch sack, but please take the time to prepare a meal that’s healthy.
Bountiful Breakfasts
You don’t have to spend your early morning cooking to put a healthy breakfast on the table. Try these easy make-ahead ideas that kids love. Overnight oats, instant oatmeal, (not to sugary) cereal, fruit, and more are all fast and effortless.
After School Snacks
Okay, we promise to stop badgering you about food after this tip. Remember being a kid and being ravenous by the time you got home after a long day of learning? Have snacks at the ready so that your kid can focus on studying and homework, not a growling stomach.
Go the Extra Mile But Make it Fashion
Laying out an outfit the night before is great, but you can help yourself if you do it for the whole week ahead. If you do laundry on Saturday or Sunday, after the clothes are clean, have your kid pick out an outfit for each day of the week. Getting it done on the weekend means one less thing to worry about in the week ahead.
RELATED: Back-to-School: Tips for Quickly Getting Kids Ready in the Morning
Sleep
Everyone knows that sleep is essential. Don’t allow your kids to scroll endlessly before bed. Get into a routine that encourages at least eight hours of sleep each night. Well-rested kids will find it easier to concentrate and participate in class. Further, a good night’s rest will cut down on the inevitable colds they will catch.
Stay Positive
No matter how big of a negative Nancy your kid is, show a brave face and keep things positive. A positive attitude is infectious, and it will help erase dread. Keep on the sunny side and cheer on your kids to do the same.
Get into the Groove
Before school even starts, it’s wise to get into the routine a couple of weeks before. Get the kids in bed at their school-appropriate bedtime and have them wake as they would during the school year.
You Need a Planner
Your kids likely have one for school, but you can benefit from having one too. Use it to keep track of meals, school trips, holidays, and everything in between. A prepared parent is a happy one.
A Little Gift Goes a Long Way
Now, it’s time to spoil that baby. On the morning of the first day of school, have a little gift to give your little learner. It doesn’t have to be fancy (but it could be). A new pack of colored pencils, an empowering pin for a backpack (think “girl power” or a smiley face), one of their favorite sweet treats, etc., will all work here.
Don’t Forget to Document
We know it’s a blur on that first day, but the first day of school photos will be cherished in the future. Also, take pictures of them with their academic accomplishments from the year and put them in place for all to see. It’s a way to savor these sweet memories and to be a cheerleader for your child.
A Lunch with a Little Something Extra
A sweet, encouraging note tucked into a lunchbox can go a long way. Corny jokes are also fun to put inside. There are many ways to show that you’ve got them on your mind, and this is one of the most effortless and meaningful.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 30 Terrific Teacher Quotes Just In Time for Back to School
Soak Up Those Last Days of Summer
Kids need to know that you’ve got their backs. That last week before school starts, have one-on-one time with each of your kiddos. You can go with them to their favorite park, take them to their favorite ice cream shop, or ride a bike. Make space for your child to express their excitement and nervousness. Answer any questions that they might have and share your sage advice.
As you embark on this new academic year, remember that preparation is critical to successfully transitioning back to school. With these 25 tips, you’re well-equipped to tackle any challenge that comes your way, ensuring a smooth and stress-free start for both you and your child. As they say, “Education is the passport to the future,” with some planning and organization, you can guarantee your child is ready to take flight. Here’s to a great school year filled with learning, growth, and many memorable moments!
For even more tips to make back-to-school less daunting. Do these things to make your mornings easier!
Designate an Area for All Their Stuff
Get your kids into the habit of putting their supplies, like backpacks, jackets, shoes, etc., into the same spot when they return home from school. This way, there’s no searching for missing items in the morning. You don’t have to have a dedicated mud room for this. Stick-on wall hooks or a chair next to your door will do the trick.
A Family Calendar Works Wonders
Don’t let a doctor’s appointment or a field trip sneak up on you or your children. Put a family calendar on the refrigerator for all to see and update it so you don’t miss a thing.
Create an Inbox
Signatures, signatures, signatures. There are permission slips, report cards, and more to sign throughout the school year. Train your kids to put documents that need your attention to avoid last-minute scrambling in the morning.
Choose Outfits Ahead of Time
Getting your child dressed appropriately is one of the most challenging tasks before school. You can have arguments about clothes the night before and get your child’s outfit laid out and ready for the next day.
Pack Lunch the Night Before
So many tasks can be done ahead of time that will set you up for success. Pack lunch the night before to save more time. Get your kids involved in the process so that you ensure your kid will enjoy lunch at school. Also, this primes kids to pack their own lunches when they are old enough.
Pack Those Packs
After homework is completed, instruct your kids to have their backpacks packed with all the things they will need for the following day. If your kids are old enough to have their own phone, have them charge the phone overnight on their backpacks.
Use Actual Clocks, Not Smartphones
Hang wall clocks around the home, including in the bathroom where your kid gets ready. Also, get an old-school alarm clock. It will reduce the temptation for your kid to scroll on their smartphone in the morning.
Set Timers
This goes hand-in-hand with clocks and alarms. Set a timer so your kid knows they’ve got fifteen minutes to catch the bus or hop in the car. Set it again at the five-minute mark. You can use a wind-up kitchen timer or simply use your phone (or theirs). Just make sure they can hear it when it goes off.
Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy
Parents run late, too! Take steps the night before to ensure that you are not the one who is holding the kids up. Program your coffeemaker to have a hot pot ready and waiting when you get up. Have a designated place for your purse, wallet, and keys. Fill up the gas tank on your way home from work so you don’t have to worry about it the next day.
Get Them In the Zone
Don’t allow kids to leave the bedroom or bathroom until they are fully done: dressed, teeth brushed, beds made, and showered. Don’t allow kids to eat breakfast in their pajamas. It means an additional trip to and from the bedroom. Running around the house wastes time.
Don’t Be a Chef
While the urge to cook your kids a stack of pancakes in the morning might be tempting, simplifying breakfast saves so much time. A bowl of cereal, overnight oats, breakfast bars, etc., are your friends. You can even prepare something like a breakfast casserole or big frittata on Sunday that you can microwave and serve throughout the week.
Be Direct
Instead of saying a command like “Put on your shoes,” be more specific. “It’s time to put on your shoes. Do you want the red or white pair?” This encourages kids to make their own decisions and leaves little room for debate.
Mix It Up
Reward your kids in a way that gets them out the door. Let them know they can play their favorite game while waiting for the school bus. “We can stop at the coffee shop for a muffin, but only if we have time” can also work as an incentive.
Stock the Car
If you’re a parent who drops your kids off at school, keep an extra pair of shoes, hair ties, breakfast bars, and more in your backseat. This way, if you’re really in a rush, you can ready your kid for school on-the-go.
RELATED: 30 Terrific Teacher Quotes Just In Time for Back-to-School
Consequences
Make getting to school on time pay for your kids. If you give allowances, take away a portion for each day that they run late. You can also leverage screen time or assign extra chores as well.
Establish a Routine for You and the Kids
Take the same steps to get ready each day and encourage your children to do the same. You can all go into autopilot mode which streamlines the getting ready for school routine.
A Good Bedtime Is Key
This might seem like common sense to most, but enforcing a bedtime is a great way to ensure that kids wake up on time and are ready to go. A well-rested child is an alert one!
Wake Up Before the Kids
Having a moment to get caffeinated and collected is really important for you to facilitate a get-ready for school morning. Though it might be painful, you can do it!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 15 Back-to-School Must-Haves Your Kid Needs to Succeed This Semester
Give Plenty of Hugs and Kisses
Now, you have some great tips for getting the kiddos out the door and in school each day. Remember to shower those little ones with love and encourage them to have a productive and fun day!