Back to school time can be hectic for both you and the kiddos. Here are some tips to help ensure this school year gets off to a great start!

Tour the school

If your school hosts an open house, go! Familiarizing your child with their environment will help them ease first day jitters. Together you can meet their teacher, find their desk, or explore the playground. With an older child, you might ask them to give you a tour of the school. This will help refresh their memory and yours.

Chat about today’s events and tomorrow’s plans

While it is important to support learning throughout the summer, don’t spend the last weeks of summer vacation reviewing last year’s curriculum. All kids need some down time before the rigors of school begin. For some kids, last-minute drills can heighten anxiety, reminding them of what they’ve forgotten instead of what they remember.

Ease into the routine

Switching from a summer to a school schedule can be stressful for everyone in the household. Avoid first-day-of-school chaos by practicing your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing a solid school routine will make the first day of school go much smoother.

Connect with friends

A familiar friend can make all the difference when heading back to school. You might try calling parents from last year’s class and finding out which children are in your child’s class this year. Refresh these relationships before school starts by scheduling a play date or a school carpool.

Stock Up Together

Shopping for supplies solo may be faster, but taking your kids along is the better bet. They’ll be more excited about using the cool stuff they get to pick out. And that’s an incentive to keep it all organized!

Upgrade the Backpack

You don’t need to buy a new backpack every year. Get crafty by ironing on colorful patterned patches inside their bag for extra storage. Or add reflective tape with animal and glitter designs to the side to make the bag feel brand new!

Rearrange Their Closet

An organized closet cuts down on what-to-wear dilemmas, donate outgrown clothes and transform the newly streamlined closet with hanging organizers and clearly labeled shelves.

Pack Their Bag the Night Before

Avoid forgetting things during the morning rush by telling your child to pack their sports bags and backpacks before bedtime.