September 1, 2019

4 tips for going back to school

It’s hard to believe that the kids are heading back to school already. Summer seems to have flown by in the way it always does, nine weeks of cold drinks, camping trips and afternoon naps. Now that it’s September, we know it’s time to head back to the classroom. And so begins the last-minute scramble to get everyone ready for their first day of school. After years of preparing for the first day, as a mother, teacher or student, I’ve learned a few things. Here are four tips for going back to school.

Get organized

I don’t know how many times I have waited until the last minute to get all the back to school shopping finished. Between buying new school supplies and clothes for each kid, the shopping list can seem overwhelming. That’s why I’ve started doing some of the shopping ahead of time. Even if it means buying one or two things when you’re out shopping for groceries, it will be one more thing to cross off your list.

Get your sleep schedule on track

After enjoying weeks of long summer days and a few late nights, your child’s body clock may have fallen out of sync with their school schedule. To avoid the back to school snoozes, set an early bedtime for everyone. Do something relaxing right before bedtime, like have a bath or read a book. This will allow your child to wind down and eventually fall asleep.

Prepare the night before

There’s no such thing as being over prepared when getting ready for school. Making a lunch, packing backpacks, and laying out clothes for the next day will eliminate the amount of things to do on the big day. If most of the tasks for the first day of school are done in advance, this can lessen the amount of stress for you and your child.

Have a little fun

Heading back to school is always bittersweet. Your child is excited to see all their school friends again but it was also nice to sit back and relax for the last nine weeks. Our family created an end of summer checklist so we could make the most of the last few days of summer break. Maybe planning a last day trip, seeing a movie or relaxing at the beach is the perfect way to say goodbye to summer vacation and welcome in the next school year.