Back to School 2021: 6 Tips for a Smooth Transition Back to School
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I know, I know!
Nobody wants to hear about going back to school, however, breaking down the preparations can actually help families enjoy a smoother transition back to the structure and vibes of being back in school.
Begin early with some of the tips listed below, so that the week before school begins it’s not a mad dash for sold-out supplies and freaking out kids.
If you gradually prepare over the last few weeks of summer, you may even be able to enjoy an extra visit to the pool, with your favorite umbrella beverage in hand!
Let’s begin!
Back to School Tip #1
Begin Today to Prepare!
Preparing now saves time and lowers stress for the whole family!
Head out to get school supplies early, before they run out, and avoid the crowds. This gives you plenty of time to label and organize supplies in between pools and end of summer trips.
Help kids learn new tasks before school starts. They will gain confidence as they head back to class! Practice tasks like…
Helping a young child learn to tie their shoes.
Opening snacks and juice boxes.
Learning how to use a combination lock for middle school students.
Parking the car in the school lot for a new teen driver.
How can you start preparing a little each day today?
Back to School Tip #2
A Place for Everything!
When there is a designated place for all of the kid’s gear and important papers, it’s easier to stay on top of things! Here are some things to consider…
Set up a location by the door for coats and backpacks. Will you use some hooks on the wall or bins? Make it easy for the kids to reach and use. You can even have a spot for car keys if you have teens!
Have a spot where the kids can put important papers or folders for you to view or sign and return. Papers like permission slips, school updates, and notes from teachers.
Create some bins in the pantry where kids can grab snacks, or items to help them make their lunch. Keep healthy items easy to reach in the refrigerator as well! How about re-filling or washing out water bottles? Is there an area and a system for that?
Practice using these areas for the rest of the summer.
Back to School Tip #3
Talk About It!
Answering all of your kid’s questions and talking about their concerns over school the night before classes start adds to the stress and chaos of heading back.
There are still several opportunities over the next few weeks to strike up some conversations now. Maybe at dinner, on a hike, or while driving to the local park. These might be a few things kids may be thinking about…
Who will be my teacher?
Will I find all of my classrooms?
Which friends will be in my class?
Will school be too hard for me?
How much homework will there be?
Are masks required still?
Will we get to have choir practice? Football games? Prom?
Then when the night before school comes, your kids will have some tips and ideas of what to expect. If they forget you can remind them briefly about the conversations you have already had. There will still be some nerves, but it will save you all from a long talk and a late bedtime the night before the first day back.
Back to School Tip #4
Routines!
Having set routines is not only efficient but it helps kids share in the tasks and responsibilities of their classroom or home environment!
Routines make life predictable for kids and are a healthy way to boost their confidence and help them feel secure. Here are a few routines to introduce, or get back to as the summer days roll towards the more structured days of school…
Bedtime routines! If kids are going to bed late, and waking up late, start re-adjusting slowly back to school wake up and bedtimes. Again, slowly getting back to the routine makes the transition back less dramatic than trying to enforce the new times the night before school starts. Are your kids old enough to set an alarm? Let them practice being responsible for their own wake-up times and bedtimes if they are older.
What will the homework routine be? A week or two out make some time for reading, writing, or fun learning during what will be homework time when school begins.
How much can everyone prep the night before? Younger kids can make sure their shoes, coats, and library books are ready for the next day. Older kids can help pack lunches or prepare breakfast items. Maybe have the kids lay outfits out for the next day?
Select a few routines to focus on and try them out before school. Work out the bugs and ask the kids for their input!
Back to School Tip #5
Calendar Management!
Having 4 kids myself, this one was always a big one for me. Here are some tips for trying to tame that crazy family calendar…
Buy a large calendar for the year and place it where the whole family can see it.
Before school starts, gather the school events calendar from school websites for all of your kids, and put all the important dates on the calendar all the way through the last day of school! It’s a pain, but your “tomorrow self” will LOVE you all year for doing this!
Add some family time and weekend blocks to your calendar before it’s too late and other things get filled in. This ensures you get a day off or a weekend as a family here and there. You may have to adjust for something really important, but this is a good start to preserving some family time during the year. Add in things like…
Decorate the house for an upcoming holiday
Birthday dInners
Movie or game nights
Go out to dinner or get ice cream nights
Attend a sporting or theater event
Consider limiting the amount of extra-curricular activities the kids do.
Back to School Tip #6
Extra Tips!
Add an extra 10-15 minutes to the morning and bedtime routines. There is always a lost shoe, spilled milk, (insert any crisis), and the extra few minutes keep you on track without adding the panicked “Hurry up”, or yelling and ranting as the time runs short. If everything runs smoothly, enjoy your coffee with the kids a little longer, or add an extra bedtime story in at night.
Less can really be more!
Need less chopping and more time for sitting at the dinner table? Buy pre-chopped veggies and other convenience items!
Need less screentime for the kids? Set a timer for outside play even if the weather is bad! Pretend the power is out for 30 minutes.
Need less stress and more ideas and strategies? Check out these posts below, and keep them handy for when things get busy!
Book Graffiti for Parents: 5 Ways to Hack Parenting Books and Get to the Advice You Need
At-Home Educational Activities Your Teens and Tweens Will Love
Strategies for Parents to Boost their Child’s Reading Fluency
