Your Back to School Guide

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As summer winds to a close, it’s time to go back to school. No more lazy days of summer. Instead, you have to deal with buying school supplies, packing healthy lunches, helping with homework and finding after-school childcare, etc. Scared yet? Don’t worry! Here are A+ tips to help you manage the chaos and send your kids back to school.

Save money on school supplies by doing your back to school shopping early, so you have time to find the best deals and avoid the crowds.
Figure out what to do with your kids when school lets out. Explore your after-school childcare options now, so you’re not left scrambling at the last minute.
Want to hire an after-school sitter? Start the process early–the best nannies and babysitters get snapped up early in the summer.
Ensure your child has a great first day of school and an even better school year by getting organised and preparing early.

3 Weeks Before

Talk to kids about important issues they may face this year. Watch a few back to school videos together to kick start the conversation.
Is your child starting a new school? Ease the transition this week by going on a tour of the building, scheduling playdates with new classmates, etc.
Sign up for after-school extracurricular activities, if you haven’t already. Find the right one(s) for your kids.

2 Weeks Before

Get arty with some back to school crafts. They’ll get your kids in the school spirit and they make great gifts for teachers.
Learn about the most common back to school problems that parents face–and how to solve them!
Plan how your little ones will get to school and how they’ll get home. Decide if they’re ready to walk to school alone.

1 Week Before

Contact your child’s teachers this week to see if they have any advice before school starts.
Consider purchasing a special back to school gift for your kids.
Get kids on a regular schedule before school starts, going to bed early and waking up early. Have them fill out a nighttime routine checklist.

The Day Before

Head to the store and stock your fridge and pantry with food to make these quick and healthy breakfast and lunch ideas.
Squash any back to school worries that may be cropping up today by talking to your kids about how great school is.
As you prepare your kids for school, get yourself ready, too.

The First Day of School

Start the year off right by keeping your morning relaxed and organized.
Encourage children to talk about their day when they get home from school.
Help your kids release all of that post-school energy with these fun after-school games and activities.
Prepare some simple after-school snacks so you can feed grumbling tummies.

After School Starts

Kids complaining about classes already? Teach them how to love school.
Look out for signs that your child is being bullied (or bullying someone else). Ask your after-school sitter to be aware of these red flags, too.
Give kids a hand with homework, but don’t overdo it–many parents get too involved, which hurts kids in the long run. Read up on these homework solutions.
Ask the teacher how you can be involved with your child’s class(room)–your participation will help your kids do better in school.
Prepare for the first parent-teacher conference by creating a list of things you want to discuss.