Heading back to school can mean mixed emotions for children and parents alike. This year, with a little guidance, you can remove the stress for the entire family by transitioning back into the school year seamlessly, as follows:
Establish a routine: After a summer with a relaxed schedule and little structure, the return to the classroom can be a shock to your kids’ systems. Ease them back by gradually integrating more structure into their days. Meals and bedtime are a great way to start—begin to get your children back into a routine about two weeks before school starts to make the transition easy.
Get organized: Before the hustle and bustle of school really kicks in, take some time to get ahead of the game. Put together a master calendar that everyone can use for the year, including important school dates, vacations, sporting events and parent teacher conferences to keep you on schedule. Make sure you’ve prepared all of the paperwork, school supplies, and permission slips you and your kids need. If your child needs any medications or the school requires doctor’s notes, be sure to book necessary appointments.
Organize a carpool: If there are other families in your neighborhood heading to the same school, carpooling is a great way to save gas and time. Create a rotating schedule for drivers and make sure it’s kept up to date.
Start a fun tradition: One way to make back to- school more fun is to create a tradition that your family can look forward to each year. This tradition could be a special back to- school dinner, interviewing your child on video, or taking a picture of them in their first day outfit. Bonus: This can also be an easy way to create keepsakes.
