Summer always seems to end much sooner than it should. Here in Texas, there’s only a few weeks left of summer vacation and that means it’s time to start getting prepared for going back to school. Here are some great tips to make the transition easy.
Get Back on “School Time”
Don’t wait until the day before school to start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. If you do, you’ll have some grumpy kids on your hands…and you may be a bit grumpy too! Now is the time to start moving bedtime to an earlier time. You can do it gradually but make sure that your kids are getting adjusted to going to bed and waking up earlier.
It’s also a good idea to cut down on extra TV time that they might have enjoyed over the summer. Get them back into a routine where they’re spending time in the evening preparing for the next day (bath, clothes laid out, etc.) instead of just hanging out before bed.
Reconnect With Friends
If you have a way to contact your child’s friends, it can be fun to put together and end of summer party so that the kids can reconnect before heading back to school. You can also ask other parents to invite kids you may not know who are in the same grade. Since classes get switched up each year, it’s good to know as many people as possible going into the new year. It’s always nice to have a friend on the first day!
Get Organized
Now is the time to organize school supplies, clothes, and the pantry! Make sure your child has all the supplies they need for the first day of school. Some schools will let you bring supplies in early and drop them off so that your child doesn’t have to carry them all on the first day. See if your school has a meet the teacher day or other day before school starts when you can drop all the supplies off at their new classroom.
Also make sure they have the proper clothing for school and that your stocked up on snacks, lunch fixings and healthy breakfast foods to keep them fueled and ready to learn!
Get Ready For Homework
Make sure you and your child set time aside for homework. Younger kids will usually need help. So set aside at least an hour each day to help them when they need it. It’s a good idea to have a set time for homework that’s not too late. That way they get used to getting it done at the same time everyday and you can easily schedule it into your day as well.
Make After-School Plans
If you are not able to be home with your child after school, then now is the time to find a good after school program. Good programs fill up fast. Start looking around in your area to find a good, accredited program where your child can have fun in a safe environment…and maybe knock out some of that homework as well!