How to Prepare for the First Week of School

More than likely, if you are reading this blog post, you have children that are about to start school. No matter what age, pre-k to high school (maybe even college), getting back into a routine of going to school is sometimes hard.

Keep reading for true and tested ways to prepare for the first week of school.

Remember the Past and Plan for the Present

I want you to remember when you were a little kid and attended school. Think back to the time before school or that first week of school. What do you remember the most?

I remember being excited and ready for school to start, new school supplies, and the excitement of seeing old friends and making new ones. I don’t remember the hectic, crazy mornings or the times we almost missed the bus.

My parents had implemented a lot of these tips, and I didn’t even know it. Hopefully, using some of these tips will help you prepare for a smooth transition back to school.

Preparing for the First Week of School

To make the transition from summer to back to school the easiest, it’s always best to prepare as much as you can the week before school starts. I’m going to share some tips from parents and teachers across the world.

Tips 

• Start a bedtime routine one to two weeks before school starts. A routine may include going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. Do what works best for your family. Most parents suggested going to bed earlier and gradually waking up earlier each day to get used to the early morning wake-up times.
• Let kids help pack their school lunches. Prepare and pack as much as you can the night before. Get as much out of the way at night as you can so you aren’t running behind in the morning.
• Decide on school clothes for the next day/week. Some parents liked putting them out each night, whereas some parents suggest laying out each outfit for the entire week on Sunday evenings. One parent even said they let their boys sleep in their outfits the night before. (I will be the first to admit my sons have done this before).
• Plan dinner for the first week of school. It’s hard going back to school, but sometimes after school is hard as well. Everyone is tired, and usually, there is a lot of paperwork or even homework to attend to. If you plan out dinner for the week and choose quick meals, it will make that week go by so much smoother.
• Have backpacks ready to go at night. Make sure all papers and supplies are ready to go each night, so you only have to grab the backpacks on the way out the door.
• Use a Family Calendar that everyone can see. It will help you stay organized with meetings, projects, extracurricular activities, and sports.
• For younger children: Make sure they know how to tie shoes or let them wear Velcro shoes. Practice getting dressed and undressed and using the bathroom. Another helpful tip is to help them learn your phone number and home address.

Questions That Parents Have Asked

Do we take school supplies on the first day of school? It depends; your school should have guidance on this. Some schools have a meet-the-teacher that allows you to drop off your supplies before the first day.

What meals are quick and easy? I would suggest going on Google and searching for easy meals or meals that take less than 30 minutes. There are thousands of recipes out there. Pick something your family will enjoy. Let the kids help prepare dinner.

What if my child isn’t a morning person? That can be tough but manageable. I’m not a morning person. I find that having a checklist helps me get into a morning routine. An example would be: Make Bed, Get Dressed, Brush Teeth, Brush Hair, Eat Breakfast. That way, the order of events is the same each morning, and it becomes a habit for you and your child.

Go easy on yourself and your child. It’s an adjustment for everyone. You may run behind or forget something, but it will be alright. Soak in all the memories you can.

What are your best tips and tricks for the first week of school?