Back to School Tips for Parents
Back to school time is always a big transition, not only for children but for parents.
While children are filled with excitement and first-day jitters, parents are filled with thoughts of “Am I prepared enough?” To help eliminate these thoughts, and help you and your child prepare for the new school year, all you need is a little organization and forethought. Here are some great back to school tips to kick-start the new year and get you prepared for a fresh start:
- Gradually set earlier bedtimes and wake the kids up early as well. Bump bedtimes times up 10 or 15 minutes every few days until you’re at an appropriate bedtime for a school night and wake up time in the mornings. Otherwise, you might have a rough first few weeks of school if your kids adjust along with the start of the school year.
- Get organized! Many families use the Cozi Family App on their phones to synch calendars and the kids’ activities so everyone is always on the same page. And the best part…its free!
- Be (more) consistent with a routine. Summer is the time to get lax with your routine and bedtimes because it doesn’t get dark until later, but school operates on a schedule and it makes the transition easier (at school and at home) when you already follow one.
- Create a plan for school lunches. Create a weekly menu and grocery list, discuss with your child what healthy snacks they’d like in their lunches, or allocate money for school lunches. Fail to plan= plan to fail.
- Make a dedicated area for backpacks, homework folders, shoes, etc. Create a space in your home to hang jackets, backpacks and keep shoes. Use baskets and bins to store projects or other school supplies. Your kids will always know where their gear is and never have to look for homework or missing pairs of shoes in the morning!
We hope you all have a wonderful school year!