The First Day of School is just around the corner are you ready? Here are 9 must read back to school tips for your busy family. The first week of school will be a breeze with these helpful ideas for organizing your family for back to school.
It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over and it’s time to start getting our kids ready for school. We’ve been busy cherishing our summer memories but reality hit me as I walked through the Back to School Section at Target that school is starting very soon.
Are you ready? What grade will your child be starting?
Back to School Tips for a Busy Family
After spending 10 years in a classroom and 29 as a mom here are a few tips that will get your school year off on the right foot.
1. Make the First Day of School Part of Your Discussion
Start talking about school a few weeks before the first day of school. New teacher, new classmates, and new schedules can create some anxiety with kids. The more you make it part of your conversations they will begin to feel comfortable with changes. Print out our First Day of School Personalized Book.
2. Take a Look at Your School’s Website for Teacher’s Names
Before life gets hectic take a moment with your child to look at the school’s website and see who their grade-level teachers are. No matter which teacher they get it will be helpful for them to know the names of the other teachers in their grade level. Hopefully, the placement letter you provided will help your child get into an ideal environment for their learning style.
3. Add the School Calendar to Your Calendar
Take time to look at the school’s calendar and add it to your personal calendar. As the year kicks off more events will be added but the basic framework has already been set with holidays and days off. Take a look at your PTA Calendar and see if they’ve already started planning school-wide events too. Knowing what’s coming can help you feel less overwhelmed throughout the school year.
4. Go Back to School Supply Shopping Before School Starts
The aisles at the stores are packed full of school supplies, take advantage now of your time and shop while the store isn’t as busy. Most places have your child’s school supply list publicly posted so you can get exactly what your child will need. Don’t forget to buy a few extras for homework time or a quick Winter restock in January.
5. Start Your School Routines About Two Weeks Before School Starts
Start working on your bedtime routine that supports your school hours a few weeks before the first day of school. I saw it year after year with my students, on the 3rd day of school they would all crash and be exhausted the first week of school. The rush of the first day of school was gone and waking up early for school caught up with them.
Start waking up at the time you’ll need for school to give your body time to get adjusted to the new routine of school. Start going to bed earlier too to help make this transition further. Here are a few more morning routine tips.
6. Set Out Your Back to School Clothes for the Week
Avoid missing socks and mismatched clothes each morning but set out your clothes on the weekend with your child. It helps them to understand what matches and gets them organized for their week. Mornings will run so much smoother when you already know what you’re wearing. Here’s our system for storing clothes.
7. Set Up a Station for School Lunches
Get your child involved in making their school lunch each night. Packing a lunch each day can be so much easier if you find ways to get your child part of the process. Set up stations for them to choose from like this. You can also peek at your school’s lunch options for hot lunch, your child will discover a few meals that they like at school.
Check out our Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School
8. Set Up a Homework ZONE
Create a spot for success this school year by setting up a homework zone where you child can do their homework each day. A personalized bulletin board can be a fun way to get your child excited for back to school. Have a spot where you keep pencils, crayons, scissors, glue stick, ruler, paper. Consistency will help with homework success this school year.
9. Attend Meet the Teacher
Meet the teacher is a great event to calm the nerves of both parent and child. It is a chance to peek into your child’s classroom, meet other families who will be in class with your child, preview the curriculum and say hi to the teacher. Explore these helpful Tips for Meet the Teacher
Be sure to add Open House Night to your calendar to attend too.
BONUS TIP: Use a Little First Day of School Magic Dust
Here’s a sweet first day of school poem that your child will on their night before school starts. You can print it here.
It’s time for Back to School Shopping! Are you ready?
Back to School Resources for Busy Families
- Magic Dust for the First Day of School
- Back to School STEM Activities
- First Day of School Books
- Back to School Printable for Kids
- Back to School Shopping Tips
- Pencil Themed Literacy Game and Craft
- Top Ten Back to School Tips for Home and School
- DIY First Day of School Sign
- Back to School Photo Prop Ideas
- Back to School Reading Interview Printable
- Back to School Activities and Resources for Parents
- Back to School Quote and Magnet Idea
- Give a Teacher Supply Box
- Back to School Lunch Organization
- After School Snacks for Back to School
- Tips for Making Friends at School
- ABC’s of Open House for Parents
- 100+ Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School
- Teaching Kids How to Make Friends
- Sending a Smart Kid to Kindergarten
- Does Your Child’s Kindergarten List Compare?
- Preparing for School Brings Emotions for Both Parents and Children
Thanks for these awesome tips! A fun read and ready to implement! I’m trying my best to be a perfect mom for homeschooling now and I know it’s not that easy, but anyway, I believe myself!
I really liked it when you said that clothes should already be prepared over the weekends so that the parents can be sure that the child will wear the right match of clothes. It was a nice advice since we used to have problems with clothes all the time. That is probably the reason why my mom has decided to enroll my little sister in a Catholic school. At least, they have uniforms there. Thanks!
It sure was nice when you said that back to school will be easier for me and more exciting for my kid if I allow her to make her lunch. I will be sure to give that a try since my daughter does enjoy cooking a lot. Thank you for sharing this. I was planning to send her to a new school this year, and I am trying to figure out a way to make sure that her first day won’t be as stressful. Now I know.