Author: Ashley Winsor

By the end of the summer, most parents are ready to send their kids back to school, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a little difficult to get back into the swing of things. We’ve compiled the ten best back-to-school tips that will help ease the transition from summer time to school time in no time!

Back-To-School Tip #1: Stock Up on Supplies

Most schools have a back to school supply list that we all take in on the first day or to Meet the Teacher night. It is a really good idea to have a surplus of these supplies from the start.

This prior preparation will help you avoid the bedtime panic when your child tells you they forgot something they need to take to school the next day. You’ll be able to reassure them that you already have extra loose leaf paper. They can grab some and put it in their backpack, then head to bed for a good night’s rest.

Back-To-School Tip #2: Post the Daily Routine

This is especially helpful for younger children who are still getting used to the school routine in general. It may be helpful to put the routine on paper with pictures, and hang it up in their bathroom or bedroom, or by their backpacks. This way they know exactly what to expect all day long. It won’t surprise them to know they have soccer practice, or bedtime is earlier now than it was over the summer.

Back-To-School Tip #3: Pick Out Clothes For the Week

This is especially helpful if your little one that has favorite outfits they like to wear. It will assure them that these clothes are clean and ready to wear when they want them. It will also save you the stress of having to send kids back upstairs to put on something that matches in the morning.

Getting a shoe organizer and labeling it with the days of the week will really help ease some of the morning tension over what everyone is going to wear.

Back-To-School Tip #4: Change Your Routine Ahead of Time

Everyone always worries about the first week of school being hectic. However, that is not always the case. Sometimes the first week of school is so full of adrenaline and excitement that the mornings are pretty easy and everyone is ready to go. The second week of school, on the other hand, might not go as swimmingly.

For that reason, it might be a good idea to start the school year routine the week or two before the school year actually starts. This is especially pertinent if your kids like to sleep in and stay up late. This will get them on the new schedule and hopefully avoid any bedtime and wake up meltdowns.

Back-To-School Tip #5: Chat About Upcoming Events

If you notice that your child has some anxiety about the upcoming school year, it might be nice to take some time at breakfast or at dinner to talk about the upcoming day. Let your children know what afterschool activities are planned for them. Ask them about any testing that’s on the horizon, what they will do at recess, or what special events they have that day.

This casual conversation offers them the opportunity to discuss any anxiety they might have about upcoming events, and it gives you the chance to assuage their fears and help them work through their emotions.

Back-To-School Tip #6: Don’t Skimp On Nutrition

In the summer we all tend to get a little lazier about providing nutritious meals. After all, we’re outside a lot, swimming in the pool, and just generally more active during the summer. However, it is a proven fact that when children enjoy a nutritious meal for breakfast before school, it can help them to focus more in class and give them the energy they need to get through their day.

Make sure you start the school year right with healthy back-to-school breakfasts that include a protein for extra energy for your kids’ day.

Back-To-School Tip #7: Find a Sleep Routine

Just as getting up in the morning is difficult, going to bed at an earlier hour can be hard, too. This is especially true if your school is in session in early August when daylight lingers fairly late. Try these tips to make your bedtime routine a bit easier:

• Invest in blackout blinds for your children’s rooms so that they can have a cool, dark place to get to bed, especially if their bedtime is before the sun is completely down.
• Use calming essential oils if your child has some bedtime anxiety
• Stick to the same bedtime every night so that your children know it is not an optional or moveable time. Their bodies will automatically start to get tired after a few weeks of the same bedtime.
• It may help your child to have a soft night light, a diffuser, or a noisemaker to lull them to sleep at night.

Back-To-School Tip #8: Provide a Homework Routine/Space

Most kids thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. If you can, try to set up a time when they always do their homework. For some kids, it might be best to get it out of the way right when they get home. Some children might need to decompress, and getting it done before or after dinner is better.

Try a few different times to see what works best for your children. It is also helpful to have a space dedicated to homework where they won’t be distracted by the television or other people within the household.

Back-To-School Tip #9: Schedule Some Free Time

Once children go back to school it seems there is a never-ending schedule of wake up, eat, get dressed, go to school, do homework, go to lessons or practice, come home, shower, and go to bed. Then, on the weekends, there are recitals and more practices and games, not to mention birthday parties, playdates, and family time.

Kids need a chance to just be kids. Try not to schedule all of their time and give them a break to do whatever it is they choose. It will help them be happier in every other activity they participate in.

Back-To-School Tip #10: Meal Prep

This one is for the parents, but it will benefit the kids, too. It is easier throughout the week if you know what you’re going to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s even better if you even have some of your meals pre-made.

Taking a few hours on a Sunday afternoon to make a nutritious breakfast casserole for everyone to eat all week long, pre-cut some after school veggies, or maybe even go the distance and pre-prep some crockpot dishes you can just dump in the crockpot in the morning and have ready by dinner, will make your life so much easier. In turn, it will also make your kids lives easier as you will have more time to spend with them in the evenings. Better yet, you’ll always know the answer to the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner?”

One final back to school time saver is to hire a cleaning service to take care of your home while you’re taking care of everyone in it. Rather than stress over cleaning the house in the evenings after work or on the weekends when you could be doing more fun things with your family, call CleanSpace today to get your complimentary estimate.

We have weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly schedules, and will customize a cleaning plan to fit your specific needs. Let us take the stress of keeping your home a clean and healthy environment off of your shoulders, and schedule your first cleaning today!