10 Tips for Getting Kids ready For Going Back to School
Tips for Getting Kids Ready For Going Back to School
The walk to the bus stop every morning is near {I hear your applauds!} and it’s time to start getting the kids ready for going back to school. Here are a few tips to help get your and your family started….and more importantly to avoid those morning arguments!
- Introduce a Bedtime Routine – Two to three weeks before the return of school start getting your kiddos back into an earlier bedtime routine. You may consider setting alarms to remind yourself. This means earlier dinners, bath times and sending the kids to bed EARLIER!
- Waking Earlier – It’s time to rise and shine! When you start the new bedtime routine, wait a few days for the adjustment period and start waking your child(ren) at the time they will need to get up for school.
- Adjust lunch time – Again, two to three weeks before the start of school begin to adjust the time for lunch. While some kids eat earlier, they may have to wait until later.
- Create a Command Center – The paperwork is about to roll in! Be prepared with all the forms you are about to fill out by creating a Command Center. Make sure children know where paperwork from the book bags go so that you can fill out and return in a timely manner. The Command Center is also where important telephone numbers and the family calendar can be. In addition, it’s time to create a Homework Command Center. Whether it’s at the dining room table or a specific desk, let your child know where they will be expected to do their homework. Have a computer handy so they can access some some handy homework help websites.
- Prepare for School Supplies – Now is the time to begin searching for the best Back to School deals. If you have no idea what’s on the list begin with purchasing typical items. Call the school or search on the school website for a school supply list.
- Back to School Clothing – Go over your children’s clothing now. Look for pieces that will take them into the fall and winter months. If there’s not a lot to choose from head to your local garage sale on the weekends to save yourself some money.
- Complete Forms – at the beginning of every school year we are asked for an updated form from the doctor’s office. Get this form to your pediatrician now so they aren’t flooded with hundreds of other students forms. This will save a little of your sanity!
- Menu Plan – Once the kids are back to school things tend to get a little crazy. Consider Freezer Cooking and most definitely do some Menu Planning. Head to the Command Center and check the family calendar and plan your meals according to nights you are home or nights the family will need to eat at different times throughout the evening.
- Morning Routines – a week before school starts plan out your morning routines. This should be on a piece of paper for those first few weeks. Jot down what time each family member needs to wake, eat, shower and head out the door. If you have multiple kids heading out the door at the same time make note what time who should be in the bathroom at what time. This way everyone knows when it’s their time to be in the bathroom!
- Finalized Your Carpool – if you are apart of a carpool be sure to make final adjustments and what’s to be expected from your children and the driver! Make everything clear such as what time, will your child walk to the carpool or be picked up and when your Command Center will advise you when it’s your turn to drive!
If you have little kids who may be a little skeptical about heading back to school consider making a countdown sheet with them, reading books about school and even playing school!
As the mom of three, I know how challenging it can be to get everyone ready to go back to school. Love your practical tips. Congrats, you’re featured at the This Is How We Roll Link Party.
These are all excellent tips for helping us all get back into our routines. I may not have any little ones going to school but I still need to have order and a good command center will go a long way in helping with that.
We got a late start getting ready for back to school. It’s OK though! Slowly but surely we will get into our school routine. Great BTS tips! Stopping by from the #HomeMattersParty this week.
Great Tips! Yep, we have to do all of those things every year. Another thing that we have to do is adjust how much time the kids have to eat their lunch. Over the summer they can take their time (for the most part), enjoy extra items, request items, etc. At school they have 20 minutes, tops, to chat and eat. At lot times my kids come home at the beginning of the school year saying that they didn’t have time to eat their lunch. So we usually start practicing the week before school starts: 20 minutes, no seconds or special requests…go!
Great tips and I love the countdown for skeptical kid. I have one of those here at home. I think that will help get him excited. That and shopping for back to school items. Thanks for sharing #TTT link party
Great tips to help ease back into the back-to-school routine. Thanks for sharing at the #ThisIsHowWeRoll Link Party.
I remember my mom getting us ready for back to school when we were kids, always so much to do but I enjoyed it! My favorite part was getting all my school supplies and registering. Thanks for all the tips!
These are great tips. We always start doing the new bedtime and get up routine a few weeks before school starts an it’s a huge help! It makes all the difference when it is the first day of school and your kids are one of the only kids not grouchy and tired and are well rested. The teachers really appreciate it as well!
Great tips! These will definitely help my little one goes to school!
These are some great tips. Thanks so much for sharing.
Awesome tips. I will definitely have to start making the little one go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier. He’s been enjoying sleeping in in the mornings!
These are wonderful tips! Routines are not just good for the kids, but for adults, too! Once you get into a good routine, things go faster and smoother! People ask me all the time how I have time to make breakfast for my family everyday – it’s just part of the routine so I don’t question having time or not, I just do it!
These are awesome tips! Thanks!
These are all great tips! My hubby and I were just talking last night about when we should start to get my little guy on a sleep schedule. He starts Kindergarten this year and I think its going to be a bit of shock for all of us changing out routines around.
so many great tips. Thanks I pinned it.
Great tips! I’ve favored this for future reference 🙂
These are some great tips and I definitely agree with all of them especially that going to bed earlier. My kids love to stay up late during the holidays and then can’t get up until after lunch. School starts in about 3 1/2 weeks here and I’m going to have to start that going to bed early and waking early. Pinning. 🙂