The end of summer/beginning of the school year is always a tricky one. I feel like it takes us a few weeks to get used to not having a routine in May and then another few weeks to get back into routine at the beginning of the school year.
I’m by no means an expert, but I do have some tips to hopefully make the back-to-school transition a tad easier and maybe even more fun!
Bedtime
During the summer months, we play it fast and loose with our bedtime routine. Typically, my early risers are in bed by 7:30, but in the summer that flies out the window. Beginning about two to three weeks before school starts, I start getting them to bed a little earlier each night, so that by the time school rolls around, the 7:30 bedtime is second nature again! My boys always wake up by about 6:30, so they need to be in bed early to get a full night’s sleep. I want that transition well behind us by the time I’m sending them off to their teachers!
Meet the Teacher Night
If you have the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher before school starts…take it! It’s such a comforting feeling as parent to put a face with the name of the person with whom your child is going to spend so much time. Meet the Teacher Night is also a great chance to help put a nervous child’s mind at ease before the big day!
School Supplies
Another perk of going to Meet the Teacher Night is being able to talk to your child’s teacher about what supplies he or she really needs off of the district-provided list. In most cases, those lists are made for the masses and several things can be left off! Talk to the teacher and save your shopping until after you find out what is really necessary. And then take the kiddos along and make the shopping fun! When I was a kid, the best part of going back to school was the sharp new pencils that I picked myself.
Pack Lunches
I know that it’s not fun to pack a lunch each day, and the appeal of hot lunch is real! I always pack lunch for my kids for at least the first two weeks of school…especially in Kindergarten! That lunch line can be really intimidating, so for me it’s worth the time it takes to pack a lunch so they can go right to their seats and start eating. I like to throw a little note in their lunches, too…I have to do it before they get too cool for public displays of mom affection.
Take a Picture
The first day of school can be pretty overwhelming and so busy! It’s also a day that you’re going to want to look back on! We always take a picture of the boys somewhere in our front yard and then in front of their school. It’s so fun to look at that picture on the last day of school and see how much they’ve grown!
Savor the Days
It’s pretty easy to get focused on heading back to school, but don’t forget to enjoy the end of your summer. Squeeze in a few more fun things before fall and school have you hustling and bustling again!
What are your pro-tips for a successful start to the school year?
