It’s hard to believe summer vacation is almost over and we’ll be sending our little ones back to school soon. These back to school tips for parents will help you to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Get your family ready for going back to school by getting organized. Preparing for healthy lunches and creating routines. Doing some prep work before the school year begins will help with the chaos of back to school season.
Back to School Tips for Parents
Back to school organization
Organize Paperwork
The best way to prepare for the new school year is by going through all off last years paperwork. If you haven’t done so already go through all the paperwork your children brought home from last year.
Keep what’s important to you. I like to keep report cards, stories they wrote, and art projects. This organizer is a great way to keep your kid’s paperwork throughout their school years.
Also, set up a designated place for paperwork. Hanging up a wall organizer can help keep the paperwork tidy. You can have separate folders for homework and forms that need to be returned to class.
Cleanout Closets
Go through your kids closet. Toss or recycle clothing that has holes or stains. Sell or donate clothing that no longer fits. Do the same with shoes.
Next check on the condition of their backpacks and lunch bags. Do they need new ones? Once the closet and drawers are organized it will be easier to see what back to school clothes they will need.
Other Organization Tips
Get a good old fashion calendar and write all important events on it. Like, welcome back picnics, the first day of school, picture day, holidays and vacations. I also like writing down the lunch menu so my little one can decide if she wants to bring lunch or to eat a school lunch.
To help keep your home tidy place hooks on the wall at your kid’s level so they can hang up their backpacks and jackets by themselves. Keeping the backpacks at their level will make it easier for them to take stuff in and out of their bags.
Back to school lunch ideas
DIY Lunchables
My daughter loves Lunchables and I like how convenient they are. Unfortunately, Lunchables are processed food. They’re filled with sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and preservatives. So instead I make a healthier version.
The ham and cheese Lunchables are easy to create. I get ham from the deli, cut up cheddar cheese into a square shape and add some cracker. It’s a much healthier version and still easy for my daughter to make her cracker sandwiches.
You can make mini pizzas for your kid’s lunches. Use whole wheat dough and make mini pizza crusts. Then in the lunch box, include ingredients like a pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Also, throw in some veggies if they will eat them. This ends up being like a pizza Lunchable but it is a lot healthier.
Use bento boxes
Bento boxes create less waste by not having to use plastic bags and wraps. If you buy a bento box designed for kids the compartments are portioned for their appetites. Also, the lid to the container is airtight so the food stays fresh.
Shape Sandwiches
My kids are more likely to eat their sandwiches if it is cut into a shape. The sandwich is exactly the same either way but what gets them to eat their food! You can use cookie cutters or this set of sandwich cutters.
Food on a Stick
For a fun twist try putting food on a stick! This turns an ordinary lunch into a fun one. Some kids need to look at their food in a different way to encourage them to eat.
You can cut up cubes of lunch meat and cheese and put them on a mini kabob skewer. You can also do this with fruit. Putting food on a stick is a fun way to encourage your kids to eat their lunch.
Create a Routine
Morning Routine
My daughter will be starting the second grade this year. The mornings during her first two years of school had been a chaotic mess. She’s always the last one to walk in her classroom. She has also been tardy more times than I’d like.
This year it is my goal to get her to school on time. So, to accomplish this goal we are going to start a morning routine. The routine is going to be simple. Wake up, have breakfast, bathroom time, get dressed and out the door.
Kids thrive on routines because they know exactly what to expect. There is a checklist she can use to mark off each activity. You can put the checklist in a frame or a sheet protector and use a dry erase marker to check off each activity.
Evening Routines
I like this idea of an after school routine clock. Basically, you take a clock and color sections of time for different activities. Use a different color for each activity.
For example color the section from 4 to 5 homework time. Then use a different color from 5 to 6 for dinner time. 6 to 7 could be playtime. 7 to 7:30 bathtime. 7:30 to 8:30 family time. Then 8:30 to 9 would be bedtime.
It’s a great visual for your child so they know what to expect. You can also hang a color-coded sign next to the clock so they know which color is associated with the activity.
Roll Back the Clock
Because of summer vacation, my daughter is in the habit of going to bed late and sleeping in late. To correct this a few weeks before school starts I’m rolling back the time she goes to bed and wakes up. That way when the first day of school comes she will be back to her regular schedule.
Prepping for Back to School
Sorting through paperwork and clothes from the last school year is a great way to prep for the new one. Also planning healthy school lunches will entice your children to eat. Routines are helpful because kids know what to expect.
I hope you found these back to school tips for parents useful. Creating a plan and preparing for the school year can help reduce chaos in your home.
What tips do you have for going back to school? Let me know in the comments:)
Really useful tips to consider
Hi Maria, I’m glad you found these tips useful!