A quick glance at the calendar will tell you that the school year is headed to your front door, and she brought a few friends. It wouldn't hurt to tidy up a bit. If you are like most parents, you have so much to do that it makes perfect sense for this time of year to sneak up on you. You and your children have busier schedules than ever before, so you are forgiven. Here are a few tips to help you plan for the big day, execute it beautifully, and celebrate your victory. Time is a-tickin', so let's get to it:
The first step is both the most challenging and the most profound. Replacing the ostensibly lazy days of summer with the structure of the school year may be a daunting concept for you and likely is for your children. They may feel a wide range of emotions based on the coming school year, from GAH! to ZOINKS!, and occasionally all the way to GADZOOKS! This anxiety is common, whether they are starting a new school with few friends or are just not yet ready to return. Here are some tips to ease into the transition:
If possible, arrange playdates during the weeks leading up to school. Giving your children opportunities to socialize will ease their fears and add friends (and their friends' parents) to their support system. We have a suggestion for a site that can help you
easily plan such activities . (Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more...)
This is the first half of that shining part of the back to school experience that a lot of children enjoy. With a bit of forethought, this can be an exciting, inexpensive, and charitable effort. Assess each child's current wardrobe, see what fits, what doesn't, and make a list of exactly what they need. Collect all unusable clothing and prepare it for donation to
Salvation Army,
Goodwill, or similar.
Here is your payoff from the last tip. With your exact list in hand, it is time to get the gear. It would be a good idea to check the dress code regulations at your children's school beforehand. Enlist your children's help in picking out clothes and planning their first day outfit. (Hint: lay it out the night before.) Be sure to check out some of our favorite gear for your children and yourself on this page.
If the summer yielded a more relaxed sleeping schedule, make the change less abrupt by setting bedtimes a bit earlier every night in the weeks leading to the first day of school. This may not be a popular decision, and letting them read in bed can help.
The night before, it may be helpful to create lists for the following day to help your children do as much as possible independently. If they are younger, use stickers, drawings, and colors to engage them and help them get it all done.
The little things done ahead of time can make a huge difference. The night before, take a few extra minutes to have everything ready to go. Do your children have paperwork they need to take with them the first day? Are those shiny new supplies still in the plastic bag? Is lunch ready? The first step to good habits is to do it once, and the first day of school is a good time to start.
The camera pans across a living room, apparently ransacked. Focus on a clock that reads 9:03AM. Two children in banana-smeared pajamas scream across the room in a blur. Three steps behind, a harried figure chases after them clutching an assortment of shirts and backpacks, toothbrush clamped in her teeth. The camera moves to the corner of the room, revealing a dog hiding from the insanity. Fade to black.
A bit of planning can make this scene a little less 'Bruce Willis Action Adventure', and a little more 'Julie Andrews Musical'.
When the big day arrives, be sure to show your confidence and excitement. This is a huge day for all of you! Let's take pictures! You are the model for your children, and you will see this attitude reflected in them. Now get out there and be somebody!
Putting a note or a drawing in their lunch or backpack can help reset a child who is having an overwhelming day. If possible, volunteer in the classroom. Aside from the benefits of just 'being there', this sets the precedent that you are a part of their education. It will also give you insight into their learning experience, which will help down the road.
Whew. The door is closed and the house is quiet. Maybe too quiet. Of course, whether at home, the office, or around town, your work has just begun. Take the time you gained back by being prepared and reward yourself.
If you are involved in your children's school, this may be a good time to see what else we can help you with.
Take a look at our
planning and volunteer tools
, and make every day as smooth and effective as this one. Plan for a family dinner at a casual restaurant or at home after the first day of school to talk about the day and show the family support. Who wants ice cream? This was a huge accomplishment for them (and you)!
We hope these tips bring a little sanity and excitement to your back to school experience. Any tips that have done wonders for you?
Let us know!
