Get Ready for Back to School

When you go into the grocery store and have to walk past Halloween candy displays (honest to God) and school supplies to get to the produce, you know that—like it or not—summer is winding down and it’s time to gear up for the routine of back to school.

I don’t want you to have to sacrifice a minute of the carefree days in August you have left, so here are some strategies to help you and your kids get ready…ten minutes at a time.:

1. Take ten minutes to set up a family calendar. We use one with large squares and we post it on a wall near our fridge where everybody can see and reach it. I have a magnetic pencil holder with each child’s favorite colored pencil. I write in general family and school events, and each child (the littlest ones get help) writes in his/her own activities, school projects, etc. Having them do it themselves on a big family calendar forces everybody to see how and IF their activity fits into the family schedule. Color-coding helps to keep things straight at a glance.

2. Take ten minutes to set up a homework supply center. This could be a plastic tote, a shelf, a drawer, wherever makes sense for you. While school supplies are availble and on sale, but extra crayons, report covers, glue sticks, book covers, folders, loose leaf paper, erasers, pencils, and other items, and tuck them away. Doing this now saves a lot of stress and time later!

3. Take ten minutes to create a Routine Schedule. Set a homework time, bed time, wake-up time, etc., now before things get even busier!

4. Take ten minutes to have positive, motivating discussions with your kids about the new school year. Ask them questions about what they’re hoping to learn, and what kinds of things they’re looking forward to finding out.

What do you struggle with the most when it’s time for back to school?

j.