Back to school already? Yes, and August really is National Back to School Month. Today there are so many questions facing families and schools. Masks or no masks are only the beginning.
Not surprisingly, we’re not attempting to provide answers to those truly difficult questions. Today we found some great ideas about getting your family ready for school and want to share them with you.
The first day of school is not the ideal time to throw everyone into chaos. By making some changes over a couple of weeks, you will ease everyone into the “new” schedule and hopefully make a smooth transition.
Adjusting sleeping time. About two weeks before school starts have your children go to bed a little earlier each night. Getting up the next morning a bit earlier will soon move everyone into the desired schedule.
About feeding them. Along with adjusting the sleep schedule, mealtime can probably use an adjustment as well. Let’s begin with breakfast. The school schedule sleeping transition allows everyone to eat a little earlier.
Then there’s lunch. Our resources suggest that you move the lunch meal to coincide with the school’s lunch time or as close as your schedule permits.
Calendar to the rescue. Everyone in your family has events, appointments, and deadlines that need to be managed. A great idea is to have a family calendar. Our sources recommend a monthly calendar with large spaces for capturing schedules.
Color coding entries by family member keeps busy lives straight. Keep this oh-so-important calendar in a public space near the phone. Use magnets to attach the calendar to the refrigerator or tack it to a bulletin board.
Stock up on supplies. Most schools provide lists of supplies for each grade level. Clearly you will need to shop for those items. Meanwhile stock your own supply of pens, pencils, markers, erasers, notebooks, and rulers. Organize your stock so that you can easily find what you are looking for.
The night before. Help the kids pick out what they want to wear the next day and lay everything out. Check backpacks for missing homework, projects, or library books. Make sure that sports bags and musical instruments are packed and ready to go.
What if you set the breakfast table the night before as well? Setting out the non-perishable items along with the bowls and spoons will give you a head start.
Get your papers together. Make sure you have all of the papers i.e. birth certificates, vaccination records, report cards in hand. Check the school district’s website for which papers you need to bring. You can also check on that website to see if you can register ahead of time.
Make a practice run. Before school begins, take the kids on a practice run. Help them learn the route they will take if they are walking to school. Bus riders need to know where to catch the bus. The carpool also needs a dry run.
Dealing with the nerves. Everyone gets nervous in new situations. Allow your child time and space to express their concerns. Set a positive tone about the future and be honest and encouraging about your own feelings.
We want to support you and your children and hope that some of our tips have been useful for you. When you have questions about your insurance, we are only a phone call away.
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Sources: Grade Power Learning, Organized Home, Family Handyman, Bright Horizons, The New York Times.