Do This Now to Get Ready for a New School Year

The summer may not be winding to a close quite yet, but if you have school-aged children, you’re probably well aware that a new school year is looming on the horizon. Making a few changes to your routine now and getting everything in order before that much-anticipated first day can make the transition back to school more seamless. This not only helps kids adjust better but can make it less stressful for parents, too.

Make sure everyone in the family is prepared for a new school year with these tips:

1. Get needed physicals. Whether your child needs a sports physical or it’s time to get them up to date on vaccines, summer is the perfect time to schedule an appointment with the pediatrician. Not only will you have any paperwork they need filled out in time, but you can feel good knowing that your child is getting a healthier start to the school year.
2. Start planning meals. Speaking of healthier, sending your kids off to school after eating a healthy breakfast and with a well-rounded lunch helps them power through the day. Sitting down to dinner as a family is good for their mental health and helps kids embrace better eating habits for a lifetime. Although it’s too early to start preparing food or even shopping, now is a great time to think about meals the whole family will enjoy. Advance planning and meal prepping make your life easier and also make it more likely that everyone will eat healthier.
3. Re-establish routines. Some kids have no problem quickly transitioning from relaxed summer routines to school year schedules, but others need some time to ease into the changes. Depending on how much time your child needs to adjust, start re-establishing bedtimes and wake times, as well as other routines they can expect once school starts. If they shower before school, get them back into the habit. If you plan to limit screen time so they can do their homework, get them used to cutting back now and have them read more.
4. Talk to your child about the new school year. Spend some time talking to kids about what they can expect at school. Ask them questions about how they feel and talk through any concerns or fears they may have about friends, teachers, school work or routines. Set some intentions and goals. When kids feel comfortable communicating with parents, especially when changes in their lives occur, it helps them process their feelings, manage expectations better and be more prepared for whatever they encounter.
5. Enjoy the end of summer. Even though you may be taking steps to prepare for a new school year, there’s no reason not to make the most of every last day of summer. Take some time off if possible and do something fun as a family. Make new memories. Savor the unstructured days before you all jump back into busy routines.