It is officially August. Officially the time when summer activities start to wind down, and people look ahead to another academic year. It is a time of transitions for those who have children. It doesn’t matter the age – all children struggle with going back to school. Here are some ideas to help make that transition easier for everyone.
- Don’t wait until the last minute to buy school supplies. Now I get super annoyed when the stores put out the supplies in July- I feel like they are robbing me of my summer. BUT- you also don’t want to wait too long. Find the sales, get the deals, and stock up for later in the year.
- Complete the online registration if your school district has it available. It will save you time later on, AND you can do it at night in your pj’s and nobody will judge you.
- Plan for lunches. Not saying that you need to stock up on food right now, but there are some things that you will see go on sale that you might want to start getting. It is also a good time to talk about what type of lunch your child will eat- school lunch or home lunch? Hot food or cold food? This will help you to start thinking of what to pack. My eldest really enjoys hot food, so we bought her a smaller thermos to use that keeps her food warm.
- Complete a few “morning routines” as practice. It is probably what we all dread the most- getting the kids up, dressed, fed, and out the door (and here’s the kicker) on time. I mean, nobody is perfect. We all know we will have good days and bad days. But to alleviate some of the stress, why not take a few mornings and practice. I recommend not doing it the day before the first day of school, because you need time to REVISE. Things might not go according to plan, and you might find that doing things a little different might work better. Allow yourself time to be successful BEFORE the first day. You could even turn it into a game- if everyone can get ready on time for the “bus” then we can all get a donut. Or oatmeal. Or ice cream. Whatever works for you.
- Celebrate! you’ve lasted another summer and your child is about to start a new adventure. One tradition that we have in our household is a “last day of summer” breakfast at a local restaurant. Stop at the local ice cream shop, take one last trip to the beach, visit the movie theater, or find something that works for your family.
- Read books or blogs. Going back to school can sometimes cause anxiety in children, especially if it is a new transition- new school, grade, kindergarten, starting middle/high school, etc. There are many books, blogs, and articles out there to share with your child to help offer some perspective.
- Plan a first day outfit. This does not have to be extravagant by any means- but make sure that you and/or your child pick something that they will feel comfortable in for their first day.
- Talk. You might have children like mine- that don’t stop talking and will ask just about anything. OR you might have a child who is a bit more reserved or hesitant to speak up about things that he/she might be worrying about. Take some time to ask about fears and questions your child might have, or even to share what he/she might be excited about for the upcoming year. If you have an older child, it might be a good idea to ask about what after school interests he/she might have, and what clubs or organizations are available.
- Freshen up! Maybe it is time for a haircut, or even just a trim. Maybe you want to go all out and get a pedicure and facial. Helping your child look his/her best will help with that beginning of the year confidence.
- Attend the back to school night. Depending on the district your child’s school might have it before the first day, or it might be within the first couple of weeks. Either way, attending the back to school night helps you get connected to your child’s classroom and school. It is a way to meet other parents, to meet the teacher, and to see where your child will be spending the majority of the time for the next year.
Happy end of summer to you all, and here’s to an amazing school year!
