It’s hard to believe that summer is already coming to an end, especially this year when it felt like winter in June.  But the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year is looming and will be here before we know it!  Back-to-school time is always a big transition, not only for children, but also for parents. While children are filled with excitement and first-day jitters, parents are filled with thoughts of “Am I prepared enough?” To help eliminate these thoughts, and help you and your child prepare for the new school year, all you need is a little organization and forethought. Here are some back to school tips to kickstart the school year and get you prepared for a fresh start

1.     Get Back Into Your Sleep Routine

To help eradicate those stressful school mornings, set up a regular bedtime and morning time routine to help prepare your child for school. Begin your usual school sleep routine about a week or so before school starts.

2.      Shop for School Supplies Together

To get your child excited about starting a new grade, shop for supplies together. Allow them to pick out their own backpack, lunchbox, etc. This is a great way to give them a little bit of responsibility, too!

3.      Prepare for the Unexpected

Working parents know that it can be difficult to find a sitter when your child is sick. Before school even begins, it is a good idea to have a sitter already lined up in case you get that phone call from the nurse saying your child is ill.

4.     Turn Off the TV and Video Games

For many children, summertime is filled with endless video games and TV programs. Children are usually in shock when they begin school and realize that six hours of their day is going to spent learning and not playing games and watching TV. Ease your child into the learning process by turning off the electronics and encouraging them to read or play quietly. 

5.      Review School Material and Information

For most parents, schools send home a packet with a ton of information regarding their child’s new teacher, important dates to remember, emergency forms, and transportation routines. Make sure that you read through this information carefully, and mark down all important dates on your calendar. 

6.      Get Organized

The best way to prepare for back-to-school time is to be organized. With school comes a massive amount of paperwork, which can consume your household. Designate a spot in your house for homework, permission slips, and any other school-related papers. This can help eliminate all of that paper clutter and make your life less stressful. 

7.    Quality Time

Be sure to use your last week before the kids go to school to spend some much-needed one-on-one time with the kids before the chaos of the school year and after school activities begins.