Tips for Transitioning Back to School

With back-to-school just around the corner, or in this case, around the holiday, it is time to make sure you and your kids are ready for the transition. Whether your kids are headed to kindergarten or their senior year of high school, there are a few things you can do to help them, and you, get back into the swing of things quicker and easier. Read on for a few of our favorite tips.

Update Your Schedule

Chances are your sleep schedule has shifted slightly, or significantly, over the summer. With more daylight and no bus stop schedules it is easy to get in the habit of starting your day a little later. To prepare yourself and your little ones for the early morning rush, try to start getting up at the time you will need to for school mornings starting the week before school is in session.

Set-up for Success

Depending on the age of your child, having a designated space for them to complete any homework will help to keep them focused on their tasks. If they already have everything they need to complete their work available to them in their space, they will be less likely to wander around looking for things or making excuses to delay their progress.

Gear up for Greatness

To help kids get in school mode, try setting goals before the year starts. Do they want to read a book a month? Learn all their sight words or all the state capitals? Thinking about accomplishments before setting foot in the classroom can help your kids get ready to be their best.

Prepare Yourself

Once school is in session, getting as much done the night before a school day can really cut down on the morning panic, I mean rush. Having lunches made, school notebooks checked, backpacks packed, and sharing day items chosen can cut down on the headaches of scrambling at the last minute.

Create Drop-zones

Inevitably there will be lots of things coming home with your child during the school year. Work with them to establish drop-zones for things such as items that need to be reviewed and returned, assignments and projects to be kept at home, and used lunchboxes or snack containers. Having a place for everything to go will help cut down on missed permission slips and lunchboxes that sit in a backpack over the weekend. Yuck.

Last Minute Laughs

Going back to school can be stressful for both parents and kiddos. Try to plan a last summer activity for the whole family that can take some of the scaries away. Maybe it is a last hurrah at the cabin or a trip to the Minnesota State Fair. Whatever you choose, be sure to make some lasting summer memories because we will be shoveling snow in no time!