Most of our kids will start school in the next 3-4 weeks. Are you ready? Before you know it .. it’ll be the day, and you’ll be dealing with at least 1 cranky child, moods, or possibly attitudes as well.
How can we all transition from Vacation Mode to School Mode? We thought it would be fun to share our tips – we’re hoping YOU have tips too.. after all, we can all benefit from each other, right?
Start enforcing Bedtime/Routine
If you are like me, you’ve moved the bedtime later and have become lax in other areas. You do not want to have a cranky tired child upset because they have to go to bed early … so plan accordingly.
You know your child best. I know my daughter needs to be in bed no later then 9pm if she’s going to be OK the next day. On school nights I enforce bed by 8:30pm. My kids are the go to bed late get up early kind so they are getting up at the normal school time but get tired because they are sleeping less.
This week I’m starting to enforce bedtime at 9:30pm and I’m going to keep going back 15-30 min until we reach our goal the week before school starts.
Same thing with their morning routine — its time to start easing them back into their steady routine to make them not resent the early wake up alarms.
Start Buying School Supplies
The sales are starting (and we are going to be covering them) and the best way to get your kids excited about school is to involve them in the process to get ready. Have them look at the ads with you or our blog posts so they can help choose from what’s on sale. According to USA Today most parents will spend over $100.
OVER $100!!! That can stress any parent out and throw your budget into a tailspin. If that’s the case we need to start NOW and maybe set aside $10-$20 a week per child to get them ready with the essentials.
You can bookmark THIS PAGE on the blog – which will cover ALL of the back to school ads for the top stores.
Between Uniforms, school supplies and backpacks it all adds up.
Some schools give you a list at the end of the school year, others wait until the week before school starts. You can easily google and find the recommended school list for your childs grade. There is no reason to be unprepared.
Start Waking up those Brain Cells
4 weeks ahead is still enough time to get in a few good books and involved with the Summer Reading Programs.
Its also a great time to review some of what was covered last year and get a jump on the new year. I have personally bought the Summer Bridge Series of workbooks for a few years and its really easy for me to follow the information and get my kids ready.
Start Talking about School
Did your kids have problems last year? How were they addressed? Are you concerned about something cropping up again this year?
Make it a point to talk to your child about the problems they’ve encountered and what worked for them in the past to be able to cope with their days at school. Make it a point as the parent to go to the Back to School night and meet the new teacher before the 1st day of school. Take this opportunity to exchange direct contact information.
My son transitioning to middle school was made a lot easier because his teachers and I had our emails, cell phone numbers, etc and we were all on the same page.
When my daughter had a situation with a gal in her class. I emailed her teacher to let her know what had happened and how we handled it asking her to keep an eye out in case the situation escalated.
Have your kids been victims of Bullying? Now is when to start that conversation. Here is a great resource to help you talk to your child now.
Start Planning for Extra Curricular Activities
Are they going to be in extra curricular activities? Start talking to them about that now and if it can fit into the family budget. Are they going to stop a certain sport and want to try something new? Now is when to sell the sport gear or musical instrument from last year to fund the new interest.
Older kids look forward to class trips. Would that be something your child would be interested in? Perhaps it’s time to start a slush fund for curricular activities if that is something they want to pursue – then you’ll have a small piggy set aside for those expenses.
Start Menu Planning
My child is very picky and my other child is gluten free. Lunches can get boring real fast. Some schools have gluten free options if you have a doctors note so make sure to do your homework. We have made this choice on our own so its on my dime.
Look at your pantry and start planning ahead. Find out if your kids will be taking lunch and what ideas they have for their meals.
The 99 Cent store has made lunches fun, I picked up Minion sandwich holders and containers so make sure to check your local store. Lunches do not have to be boring. Start stocking up on Back to School Snacks so you have lunchbox items ready for the new School Year.
See our Tips for Effective Menu Planning – you may find them helpful.
Plan a Back to School Party
Nothing elaborate but cupcakes and ice cream before school starts with the summer crew will help them say good bye and hello to school!
We like to plan a staycation a couple weeks before so that the last weekend we are home and ready.
Have you checked our recommendations for Staycations in Phoenix? You can also see our recommendation for a family Staycation in Tucson, too!
Here’s to a great School Year full of memories and savings!
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