It’s hard to believe, but city schools are back in session and county schools start next Wednesday. Here are some tips to get your mind back into school mode.
[tw-divider]Go to Orientation.[/tw-divider]
Most schools have a “meet the teacher” night for younger grades or some type of orientation for higher grades. It’s highly recommended to take full advantage of those because they can be very helpful to get a sense of your child’s teacher and for the teacher to put a face with your child’s name. If it’s a new school, it also helps ease the child’s stress on the first day of school by giving them a feel for the classroom and the building.
[tw-divider]Practice Waking Up To the Alarm. [/tw-divider]
Summer routines are totally different; bedtimes get lax and sleeping in is a luxury. Waking up to an alarm again is sometimes the most difficult struggle on the first day of school. That’s why it’s a good idea to start using the alarm a few days before school starts, just to get everyone used to waking up and getting moving when they hear the alarm.
[tw-divider]Do What You Can the Night Before. [/tw-divider]
Anything you can do to make mornings go more smoothly saves a lot of stress and drama. Having the kids pick out the clothes they want to wear, packing a lunch, and packing the backpack the night before can ease the morning rush. Those are all really good habits to get into.
[tw-divider]Plan Your Menu for the Week. [/tw-divider]
Just like easing the morning rush is a good idea, easing the “just getting home from work rush” is another stress reliever. It takes some planning ahead, but if you can chart out your supper menu for the week on Sunday nights it will save you lots of time and indecision when it’s time to feed your family. In the same way, you can also plan your kids’ lunches for the week too. Most schools provide parents with a lunch menu, so deciding ahead of time which days they want to eat at school or bring their lunch means one less decision to make in the morning.
[tw-divider]Set Up a Homework Space. [/tw-divider]
What works best for you? The kitchen table or bar? A desk? If your kids are younger you might keep some supplies like scissors, crayons, and glue sticks stored in the homework spot. If your kids are older, a safe place for a laptop might be needed. Consistency is key to establishing routine.
[tw-divider]Schedule the Fun! [/tw-divider]
It’s always nice to have something to look forward to. Maybe you could count down the days to Labor Day on the fridge. Or write how many days are left until Fall Break on the calendar. Things like that are great motivators on rough days. We like to remind our kids during the week if we have something exciting coming up on the weekend, especially during the midweek doldrums.
A Few More Tips: For your convenience, most schools allow you to pay lunch accounts and check balances online. Also, having a designated spot for backpacks and other “take to school” things each night saves time for searching on the way out the door.
