Back to school season is stressful AF – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this checklist to cross your T’s and dot your I’s before it’s time to send your kiddos back to classes.
Fill Out Your Calendar: Make sure you’re not hit with any curveballs throughout the year by filling out your calendar with all the important school dates you need to remember before classes even start.
Clean-out Those Closets: It’s safe to say that about half the clothes you bought your kiddos last year won’t fit them now. In fact, on average kids grow out of their clothes every six months. Before hitting the stores and draining your bank account, do a fashion show and see what items need to be donated or replaced. Bonus tip: Lay out your kiddo’s fresh ‘fits the night before so that they can get dressed on their own in the morning.
Plan Your Menu: From lunches, to dinner, to after-school snacks, get ahead of the game by creating a weekly menu that you can easily stick to and that your kids will love. This will leave you stress free at the grocery store, and keep the kids from complaining come 3 o’clock. Keep favorites on hand like frozen chicken tenders.
Get Your Sitters in Order: From date night to girls’ night, you never know when you’ll want to have an outing on the fly. Get a sitter (and a backup) in order so that you can phone them in when you’re in need of a little time for yourself.
Get the Kids in Scholar Mode: There’s nothing worse than sending your kids back to school with break brain. On average, students achievement scores decline by one month of school learning during summer break (eek!). Warm them up for the big day by having them read a book in the weeks winding down to school’s opening.
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Make Them Mavens of Self-Sufficiency: Being a 'helicopter parent' can have serious negative effects on your children come college time. Every child (no matter how old) is capable of doing at least some of their morning routine on their own. From buying them their own alarm clocks, to organizing their closets so that they can dress themselves, use the weeks before school begins to get them self-sufficient.
Do A Trial-Run: One way to ensure self-sufficiency (per our point above) is to do a trial-run. The week before classes begin, do a practice run of your morning: have your kiddos practice using their supplies, run through their morning routines, etc. This will also guarantee that you have a little time to get yourself ready, as well.
Set Yearly Goals: Adults aren’t the only ones that benefit from being held accountable. Sit down with your children and help them outline their yearly goals so that they have something to work towards.
Mini Room Makeover: The change of the school year means one thing, your kids are growing up. Inspire your children to act their age by upgrading their bedrooms. Small tweaks like a change of bedding and some new wall art will inspire them to face their new responsibilities head on.
Start An Allowance System: Children who are given allowance are 90% more likely to understand the value of a dollar when they grow up. Whether you opt for traditional chores, or your kids are making money on their own, it's never too early help them set up a savings system. That way, when it comes to field trips or bake sales, they’ll have their own supply of dough to dip into.
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Schedule Their After-School Madness: Did you know, on average, kids spend around 9.6 hours a week on extracurricular activities? From intramural sports to homework, the hours after school can be even more maddening than the mornings. Get ahead of the game by pre-scheduling time for homework, dinner and family.
Buy in Bulk: On average, warehouse customers save $2,270-$2,571 by buying their groceries in bulk. That means, don’t wait until the snacks run out and the pencils run dry to hit the store. Buy everything you need for the start of the year in two’s. When it comes to snacks, you’ll save money by divvying out individual baggies on your own. Same goes for buying schools supplies. Bonus tip: Shop for supplies as soon as the list comes out to avoid the rush.
Get Organized: We can’t stress enough the importance of getting your house in order. Do a deep clean before the craze of the school year kicks in. Labels are your friend, and can be used as helpful reminders for your kids. Organizing a snack station that can be easily replenished will help you stay hands-off for the first few after-school hours.
Beat the Breakfast Beast: We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and children who eat breakfast are twice as likely to perform well on tests. However, your kids are going to get tired of soggy cereal faster than you can say “Got Milk?” Turn your breakfast routine on its head with some make-ahead options like cereal bars or freezer-friendly egg wraps.
Amy Armani
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