Back To School Tips (Checklist)

Back to school season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start getting your family back into the swing of things! Your routine and habits often change over summer (as they should!), so getting prepared for this transition will make it much more manageable and less stressful for everyone. Here are some helpful tips you can use to prepare your family for the changing seasons.

Stock your fridge with food that’s healthy and easy to eat. 

When your kids are at school, they must have food that’s going to nourish their bodies and brains, keeping them energized through those long days. However, as a parent, you may not have much time to cook and pack lunches. Stock your fridge with lots of fruits and veggies, whole wheat bread and healthy sandwich items, and healthy munchies like nuts and seeds. When you have lots of healthy snacks on hand, you will be able to pack lunches quickly without sacrificing your children’s nutrition.

Set up a consistent sleep schedule ahead of time. 

Over the summer, you and your family might have been staying up late at night and getting up later in the morning, but you won’t be able to do that during the school year. Adjusting your sleep schedules before the school year starts is a great way to make things a little bit easier. Slowly start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. When you change your routine slowly, you’ll give your body some much-needed time to adjust.

Create a workspace for your kids at home. 

With back to school comes plenty of homework, which means your kids are going to need a comfy place to study while they’re at home. Set up a station with a desk and some storage tools that your kids can use to stay organized. You also may want to put a computer there if your kids need one to do their homework. Having a designated space just for homework will help your children be more productive and reduce distractions.

Review your daily schedule with your kids. 

Going back to school can be a big adjustment, especially when the kids are young. You’ll want to reduce any confusion about what’s going to happen on school days. Talk to your kids about how they’ll get to school (bus, walking, carpooling), any after-school activities they might have, and how they’ll get home. If you are going to be at work when the kids get home, arrange for a designated place for them to go – maybe a family member or friend’s house. You’ll also want to review with them the items they need to bring each day – notebooks and pencils, homework, lunch, etc. Create a checklist that you guys can incorporate into your routine to make things easier! Even if you help them pack their bags every day, reviewing these things with them can help them develop a sense of personal responsibility as they get older.