14 Simple Ways to Prepare for Back-to-School

August has arrived, and you know what that means...that's right! It's Back-to-School time! For some, the Back-to-School sales have already begun, while others may not even be aware that their summers are nearly over!

Here are 14 tips to help you prepare for the coming school year.

1. Sleep on it

Children don’t always have strict sleeping schedules over the summer. Help your child get used to the back-to-school routine by starting the transition early. Establish earlier bed times and wake-up times at least a week before school starts.

2. Eat it up

A growling stomach can make it harder to concentrate. Nutritious meals play a large role in proper brain development. Children who eat a healthy breakfast and lunch often do better in school.

3. Check it out

Most schools require up-to-date immunization records. It’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician before school starts to ensure that your child is healthy and up-to-date. Don’t forget to get a copy of any documents that the school might need!

4. Turn it off

Establish rules about acceptable TV programs and time spent on the tube. Consider placing an overall TV time limit. The Mayo Clinic recommends that children do not watch more than 1 or 2 hours of television per day.

5. Book it

Summer time often results in a shorter attention span for kids. Reading aloud together can help prepare to focus in the classroom. Plus, asking questions about the story can help kids focus on the story while improving memory skills that will also come in handy in the classroom!

6. Plan it

Planning meals ahead of time often results in healthier meal choices and more time saved. Meals can also be prepared in advance, which saves even more time! Many families find that meal pre-planning and preparation allows them enough free-time to be able to focus more on each other, or to help-out with homework.

7. Lay it out

Deciding what clothing to wear can be a huge issue for younger kids—and many adults! In order to avoid a clothing catastrophe, many families choose to lay out weekly options for kids to choose. That way you know that you’ll approve and they still feel like they get a choice!

8. Work it

When tasks are simple to do, they’re more likely to be done.  Establishing a workstation for homework & stocking it with supplies helps to take some of the thought process—and dread—out of homework time.

9. Supply it

Eliminate the stress and guesswork of school supply shopping by obtaining a supply list directly from your child’s teacher. If you’re unable to contact the teacher, most schools will post supply lists on their websites. If you still can’t locate a supply list, many retailers will have printed lists conveniently located next to the school supplies!

10. Save it

Once you have located the supply list, why not save a little money? Check store flyers and websites for sales. You should also consider buying in bulk. Warehouse stores, discount stores & online bid sites can be a great place to get basics in bulk. 

How do they fit 1,000 #2 pencils into one package anyway?

Some states even offer “Tax Free Days” for school supplies.

http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales_holiday.html#chart

11. Organize it

Few things are worse than finding important papers waded-up in the bottom of your kids’ backpack. Plus, you usually find them 2 weeks after you needed them! Help them get—and stay—organized with binders that they don’t mind showing off. Colorful, playful or sports themed binders can help remind kids to protect their papers.

12. Organize it again

Take advantage of your smartphone. There are apps dedicated to class schedules, sports schedules, homework due dates, field trips, flashcards, there are even digital tutor apps. Many apps will sync to multiple devices, which could come in handy if your child also has a smartphone.

13. Post it

Stay in-the-know by sharing daily schedules on a dry erase board. This way you can avoid heartache and confusion by addressing conflicting schedules in advance. Plus, you don’t want to forget about Timmy’s football game…not that he’d let you!

14. Take it easy

Dry erase boards are also an excellent place to write and keep track of chore lists for your kids. Kids can often handle a lot more responsibility than we give them credit for! Start with simple things like putting away their own backpacks. Then, establish age-appropriate chore lists for your kids so that you can have a chance (as slim as it may be) to feel sane, if only for a little while!