Ready or not… back to school is around the corner! And emotions may be running high in your house for both you and the kids. But, tacking a few things off the back to school checklist may help ease the transition and make things less stressful for everyone! Best of all… they won’t take hours to accomplish!
Spend Time With *Only* Family
Summer is a free-flowing time with camp, grilling out and beach days with friends, and maybe even a trip with extended family. So, be sure to take some time (a day, weekend or week) to do something with just your immediate family. When you’re back in the throes of fall sports, activities and school, you’ll be glad you did.
Get the Back to School Supplies
Tackle the back to school supply list as early as possible. It’ll keep you from scrambling at the last minute and feeling unprepared! Plus, a few fresh things can make the year feel exciting! Bring the kids with you to shop in the store, rather than online so they can pick out a few fun items in person!
Get Back to a Bedtime Routine
If you’ve loosened the reigns on bedtime for 2+ months, moving bedtime back to normal can feel very abrupt and unfair if you do it all at once, the night before school starts. Plus, summertime jetlag is real!
Start moving bedtime back to normal about a week before school starts, 10 to 15 minutes at a time, and you’ll all get off to a better start with sleep this year.
Get the Forms Filled Out
Have doctors forms, releases, or other things signed off on before that first day. That way, you can spend the first week of school getting back to what YOU need or want to do, instead of running to the pediatrician and begging them to sign off on whatever you forgot to give them earlier this summer.
Visit the Playground
Especially if your child is starting a new school, stopping by the school playground (with or without friends) can make school feel familiar that first day. They may not be able to see their classroom, but at least they can see the outside, and where they’ll be at recess.
Pick a First Day Outfit
You don’t need a fancy chalkboard or an expensive outfit (it’s more important that your child loves and it doesn’t even have to be new!). But having a sign ready to go and an outfit chosen can help you get that first day photo done with less stress. Don’t forget to schedule a haircut—we love Sharkey’s for their great cuts and super kid and teen-friendly atmosphere.
Talk About Any Worries, But Not All Day
Experts say to talk over any concerns but not to let it take over your household. Let your child share what they’re concerned about, and then move on to the next activity of the day. It’s totally normal to be nervous, but ruminating with them or an extended period will make it seem like it’s not.
Dial in the Morning Routine
Especially if your child is having butterflies, practicing the morning routine can help them know what to expect—you can even drive past school and get donuts to make the dry run extra fun. Buying a morning routine chart (or making one using Chat GPT or Canva or doing freehand!) can also help you get back to business, faster.
This article originally appeared on our parent site, The Local Moms Network