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Originally Posted On: https://bippermedia.com/how-to-get-kids-ready-for-back-to-school/
The weeks leading up to the beginning of a new school year can be extremely hard to navigate. You don’t want to overwhelm your child but you also don’t want to drop them off unprepared on their first day. A lot of parents face this every year and it is important to remember that you will make it through it just like they did. For those asking how to best prepare their child for school, we will provide the answer for you so you can spend less time researching and spend more time getting your kid ready!
Below are six ways to get your child ready for back to school:
1. Get back into a schedule
It is extremely important to prepare your child for the new schedule they’re about to have so they are not stressed during the first few days. Creating a schedule they can get used to leading up to the first day of school is the best way to avoid anxiety for your children.
Around a week or two before the first day, have them re-establish school habits like setting an alarm in the morning, getting dressed and then eating breakfast.
If the child is old enough, have them practice choosing their outfits and making their lunch the night before. Getting your child readjusted to going to bed at an earlier time is also extremely helpful and will make it easier for them to get up in the morning!
Practicing the time they should go to bed and wake up will be helpful for them but also for you. Additionally, scheduling a daily nap time that is not too long can help adjust them for the allotted nap times they will have at school.
In the situation that your child has to walk or be dropped off at a bus stop, practice going to the bus stop the week before school begins as well.
2. Visit the school beforehand
From open houses to back-to-school nights to scheduled meetings, most schools offer a way for parents to bring their children to see their future surroundings and possibly even their new teachers. This can help children adjust to being back in school easier if they have already been in that setting and feel more comfortable with the teacher. This is also a great time to practice walking through the hallways so they can learn the layout to their school!
Some younger children might have an easier time adjusting to their classroom if a parent is present during the first visit.
3. Connect with future classmates
Remember your first day of school and how nerve-wracking it is? Think about how much easier that would have been if you already had friends there!
If possible, a great way to help your child get prepared for school is to set up play dates with other future classmates. This will help the first day be way less intimidating and stressful for your kid!
Don’t forget that this also benefits you as much as it benefits your child. When setting up play dates, try to become friends with their parents too! They could end up being a carpool buddy when you need one or even a new best friend.
4. Double-check your supply list and go back to school shopping
Most schools provide you with informational packets that include what your child will need once they begin school. Put aside some time to go through those packets and write down the items your child will need. Remember that there may be things your child will need that might not be included in those packets, such as lunchboxes, backpacks or pencil cases!
Going back-to-school shopping can be stressful for your child so it is important to try to make it enjoyable. Look for back-to-school outfits and supplies that are exciting to your child because those will help them feel more confident on the first day.
It is also crucial to budget beforehand because parents spend around $264 on average on their children’s back-to-school clothing and supplies according to Statista.
Though online shopping grew increasingly popular during the pandemic, in-person shopping seems to be having a comeback. According to Deloitte, in-store shopping will represent 49% of the back-to-school shopping budget this year.
So if you cannot find good deals online, it may be worth taking a trip to the store!
5. Practice skills they might need at school
No matter how much you prepare your child, there will still be things they don’t know how to do on the first day of school. Luckily, there are a couple of easy things you can teach your child to make their transition a little easier!
Here are some back-to-school skills that you can practice with your kid:
- Undoing and redoing buttons and zippers so they can go to the bathroom
- Packing and unpacking their backpack
- Spelling their first and last name along with a parent’s phone number (if they are old enough)
- Opening containers that go in their lunchbox
- Hanging coats and jackets on hooks
- Raising their hand if they have a question
6. Create a tradition for the day before school starts
Having a fun activity the day before school starts can make the beginning of the new school year a little less stressful and a little more exciting! Giving your child a reason to be excited for the days before school can make them look forward to the first day of school.
These activities can be anything, including but not limited to getting a fun meal, seeing a movie, grabbing ice cream, going to the pool or swinging by a bowling alley! A fun family tradition the night before the first day can also give you a last-minute opportunity to check in on how your child is feeling about starting school.
Regardless of how they are feeling about school, having a fun activity will distract them, ease any nerves and create long-lasting memories. If there is no room in your family’s busy schedule to implement a new tradition, don’t fret! You and your child can also rest up before their first day of school too!
Visit The Learning Experience’s Bubbles and Friends YouTube channel for fun back to school activities.
