With most schools starting back in the second half of August, Asheville Macaroni Kid rounded up 12 things you can do to be ready when school starts!
1. Sleep. Get kiddos to be earlier now so you can practice their sleep schedule before school starts. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that school-age children get between 9 - 11 hours of sleep per night. I know it feels weird to put kids to bed at 7:30 p.m. when it's still sunny outside, but if they need to get up at 6:30 a.m. to make it to school on time, it's smart to do now. Tinker with your child's sleep schedule until you've got it right. Remember, most sleep experts advise going to bed and waking up at the same time every day (even adults!) and ever on the weekends!
2. Get school supplies. Okay, totally obvious one here, but if you do it now you won't be running around in a panic the day before school begins. Most schools post a School Supply list by grade level on the school website or on Facebook. Stores like Target and Office Depot are ready to roll with all things Back to School.
3. Get your Printables ready for first day of school pictures! Totally adorable Printable signs help you create memories on the first day of school!
4. Choose an area for all things school in your home. Designate an area of your house with hooks to hang backpacks and lunch packs. Use trays, baskets or open storage cubbies to have assigned spots for library books, homework assignments and notes or flyers from the school. Having one designated area will prevent you from having a stressful morning of walking around looking for that missing library book that's due back.
5. Get your child set up with a cool alarm clock. Morning and moods can be tough with littles. Make the whole waking up process more fun with the right alarm clock. Here's one a lot of parents love. When kids get themselves up, it fosters a sense of personal responsibility. Help set the morning mood by starting the day with a positive mindset. Cheerful good morning and happy parents really create the right foundation for kids before they get on the school bus or drive with you to school.
6. Plan your after-school activities now. Karate? Gymnastics? STEM? Ballet? Soccer? Violin? Most businesses with after-school activities offer specials at this time of year. Be the first to sign up!
7. Build your routine. For an easier morning, do everything that can be done the night before. Pack lunches, have your kids pick out clothes, plan breakfast, and collect the things that go back to school. Have a grab-and-go philosophy. Keep keys in the same spot. Make sure you don't have to go on a treasure hunt for a missing shoe, comfort stuffed animal for the car or a jacket. Make showers and baths part of the nighttime routine for the sake of your own sanity in the morning. Consider making a fun checklist for your child with the things they need to do each morning, but keep it simple. Something like ...
- Eat breakfast
- Get dressed
- Brush teeth
- Grab your backpack & lunch
8. Get haircuts. The start of a new school year is a good time to checkoff all of the appointments off your list. New haircuts for those back-to-school pics? Yes!
9. Schedule your Back-to-School doc appointments. Whether your little one needs certain immunizations for school or just a check-up, get it done in August so you will be ready to roll on day one.
10. Talk positives. It's natural for kids to be a little bit apprehensive with the start of a school year, so help them list all the positives. Tune in to what your child likes best about school and help them remember. A particular teacher your child loves? A school event they will do again this year? Friends? Recess? A certain subject? Go over all the fun things about school so your child will begin to look forward to going!
11. Familiarize yourself with the school. Whether you are starting a new school or going back to the same school as last year, there's bound to be something new about your child's experience. If your child can get a sense of where they are going, what teacher he/she has, and where their spot will be for their backpacks, lunch boxes and snacks, it helps kids feel more confident on day one.
12. Make the first week special. As you build your routine for the school year, consider transitioning slowly by doing something special on the first week of school. Special "brave" bracelets for back-to-school? Maybe both parents do drop off? Something special at pick up? Have y your family dog accompany you at pick up? Little special touches can make a big difference to your kids during a time of transition.
What's your favorite Back-to-School tip? I'd love to hear from you! Email me at: SandraB@MacaroniKid.com
