Back to School Tips

Where did summer go? It felt like we were just breaking out the swim suits and shorts and now the back-to-school season is upon us! New school supplies, haircuts and special end-of-summer outings all play into the back-to-school routine. Here are a few of our tips, on how to ensure a smooth transition into the school year!

1. Set up a bedtime and wake-up routine in advance! If possible, it’s best to establish bedtimes and wake-up times two weeks in advance of the start of school. It will help you, your kiddos and your nanny all get back into the swing of the school year.
2. Get to know new teachers. There will be open houses, orientations, and other meet-and-greet options at the beginning of the school year. Attending those and getting to know your kids’ teachers is always helpful for parents and kiddos.
3. Review after school rules! This is helpful for both your kiddos and your nanny. If you have a homework-first rule, make sure everyone remembers what is expected.
4. Include your child in picking out school supplies. Take time to do inventory of the school supplies you already have. For the school supplies you do need to purchase, make it a fun event and include your child in shopping for the new school supplies. This will help everyone get in the back-to-school mindset, not to mention it will assist your child in being invested in starting school and he/she will be excited to use the new pencils, backpacks, etc. on the first day of school!
5. Talk about any concerns. Sometimes children can feel a little anxious during the transition between summer and back-to-school. If you are able to discover what concerns they may have ahead of time, you can talk through their concerns and help them understand what to expect.
6. Get organized. Create a place for backpacks, lunch boxes and school papers to be kept. This will help keep everyone organized and ready to take on the school year.
7. Plan a playdate with a classmate. Most schools post a class list in advance of the beginning of the school year. Meeting with a new classmate or reacquainting with an old one for a playdate can help the transition back-to-school.
8. Plan something fun for the first weekend after school starts. Planning a fun activity such as going to the movie, zoo or something else you enjoy as a family is a great way to help your kids make the connection that just because school has started doesn’t mean fun family time is over.
9. Limit activities that start at the beginning of the school year. Summer can be scheduled with various activities and events, but easing into the school year is important. It’s important that kids have some downtime during the school year too. If your kiddos are scheduled for something after school every day, it’s hard for them to have time for free play.
10. Figure out healthy breakfast and lunches. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and sending your kiddo off to school with a healthy breakfast in their stomach and a nutritious lunch in their backpack can help everyone. Look up healthy breakfast and lunches you can make beforehand, so it is not a rush in the morning to figure out meals.