Back To School Tips
So, I can’t believe I am discussing this but, it’s time to start thinking about heading back to school for those who have children who are school age. Make getting back to school easy with these super helpful back to school tips.
We have the obvious tips that you can find about school shopping out there, where to buy what and when to buy it. But, I want to share some tips, tricks and advice on getting back to school ready from a teachers perspective. There’s tons of information out there about ways to help your family get ready, but, these tips are from a teachers way of thinking and seem to be great tips overall.
Create a Routine
I talked to a lifelong friend of mine who is now an out of state teacher. She was excited to share her thoughts in hopes to help families ease back in to this time of year.
She said that the biggest thing, especially for young kids or children with disabilities is getting them back on a school schedule again.
This means adjusting their schedule at least a week before going back to school. You need to adjust their sleep schedule and naps schedule to what school hours will require of them.
This really helps the whole first week go by so much smoother.
Get the basics but wait on the full list
She also mentioned that parents don’t need to get the whole back to school shopping list done before school starts. Just get the essentials. She shared that many teachers will have specifics of items that they would like and may request for their class or classroom. Those teachers will hand out a list during the teacher meeting time or the first day of school.
Preparation is key
I also spoke to another teacher friend who wanted to share some information, as well, from both a teachers perspective and a parents perspective! She was so helpful and insightful.
She said as parents, make sure you start to make your lunches the night before. This will save you time in the morning and help make sure that your child has lunch figured out for the next day.
If you can, check the weather the night before, for the following day.
This will help you plan out what your child should wear for the following day. This should also help slim down the clothing arguments that some parents and children have that delay the school morning.
She also touched on the importance of structure and routines. As my previous teacher friend said, start the routine a bit before school starts so the children can ease into the school year successfully.
RELATED: Tips to help prepare toddlers for Preschool.
Think about the ears around
She also wanted to share her thoughts for some back to school tips from a teachers perspective. The biggest thing she wants parents to know is please, please, please, do not complain about the school supply list.
Whether you realize it or not, doing this sends a message to the children that school is not important, teachers are not of value and school in’t worth investing in. This is not the idea that you want to portray to your children.
I’ve always got my 2 cents!
Now, I’ve got some tips from myself.
Designate Evening Gime
I just want to share that I think it is important to set up a “homework time” and “activity time” for children after school. I know that it can be exhausting physically and mentally for kids to be in school all day and then come home and have to go straight back to homework. While this may be necessary for times sake.
I do think it is necessary to have a “play/activity” break. They need to expel some energy that they’ve had pent up all day before they get back to cracking down on the homework.
I understand that sometimes, some children need to keep the motion going or they can’t get started again on school work.
But, not all kids are this way. I guess, it’s just important for you to monitor what type of kid you have and adjust accordingly.
Importance of Family Time
I also feel that it is important to designate Family Time. Family time should be spent together, without electronics, talking about your day (keeping mentally up to date with school assignments, tests, friendships, etc), playing a game and spending time together.
This will help your relationships continue to build with your spouse, children and family as a whole.
Notice how I send without electronics? I know, sometimes parents use electronics as the kids babysitters, but, we really need to get out of that habit.
No matter how exhausted you may be. I know it can be hard at times, but that’s life of a parent, right?
If you’re having trouble getting your kids to open up and talk about their school days, check out these conversation starters that may help you all increase the open family time and conversations.
PLANNER
One thing I also do that helps my little family and I’m sure would help any family with kids, is to create a family calendar to keep the school, sport and family activities straight. Especially as the kids get older, this will help keep the organization in to your lives that you are desperately seeking. I love using our planner for our little family of five.
You may want to get your kids to help you pick out a planner. This could make them feel included in on the organization and know that they need to update you with any changes in school schedules, sports practices, tests, etc.
I use different color ink in my pens for each different person to make it super easy to look at the planner quickly and know what’s going on and who is doing what, where and when.
I know we loved using Target for back to school shopping and I have heard that they are running some great back to school supply shopping sales. If you’re interested in buying things online, they’re offering free shipping for online orders over $35.00 or more.
School Clothes
I’ve also heard that Crazy 8 has a great new denim collection, just in time for back to school shopping! This collections adds 7 new washes to your favorite fits.
Their clothing is age appropriate (principal and mom approved). Crazy 8 is a great brand and we love to dress our family in it. Make sure to visit the Crazy 8 site to check out all the new trending clothing styles and get your hands on some of those adorable outfits for your children.
I love that new denim collection. It is totally worth checking out.
Another favorite place for back to school clothing shopping is Gymboree!!!
We love Gymboree for my daughter but my mom loves to take my (much younger) siblings to Gymboree for her new clothes for school time. Gymboree is always a fun place for the kids to “go shopping” too.
They have a little tv and entertainment area at the back of most stores so the children can be entertained while the adults feel free to browse and find all the clothing items that they’re looking for.
But what about mom and dad sanity during back to school craziness?!
These are a bunch of tips from myself and from a few teacher friends of mine that I hope help you transition back into the back to school spirit.
If talking back to school stuff makes you feel like you need a big ol’ glass of wine (like I do), feel free to check out this wine delivery service through California Wine Club!
I mean, you know you’re going to need a few bottles to make it through the school year. So, you might as well make it easy on yourself and just have it auto delivered.
That sounds pretty awesome to me. We are totally hopping on this right now! Stay tuned for our nice wine pictures as we skate through the school year.
Great tips for getting prepared to return to school. Its so hard to believe that it is that time of year again. Where did the time go??
I know right?! I can’t believe I’m talking about it already.
I’m with you, I can’t believe we have to start thinking about this already. I love the idea of easing kids back into the swing of things. My kids had summer packets, so we never really turned off school completely. Oh, and I’m also with you on the shutting down the electronics and spending time together!! Yes!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jen! I’m so surprised how quick the summer flew by.
Great tip about scheduling – and I love Target!
Yayyy for Target fans 🙂 Thanks for sharing
Oh man! I don’t have kids but this post reminded me of the sleep schedule difficulties that first week. It was such a struggle to get up on time. I love your tip about starting to adjust a week before school starts to make it easier. Genius!
My oldest is starting preschool in two weeks and she is super excited! I am too, for some reason it seems really cool to have a kid old enough for it ? Thanks for the tips!
Congrats! That’s great you’re both excited for it. I hope it goes well and thanks for reading and sharing.
Thank you for this. My son is starting preschool in the fall and I’m getting such anxiety about it! I stay home and we are never apart… This summer has been a blur, we just moved into a new house and I kind of forgot that I need to to get on top of all this back to school stuff!
Oh, you’re welcome Jen. I’m sure the first couple days will be hard- more for you than him. But, it sounds like you’ll be busy getting the new house straight, so maybe that can help keep your mid busy and off how much you’d love to be with him, while he gets his school time in each day.
I can’t believe it’s almost back to school time! These are such great tips, but I really love the one about not complaining about the supply list. I think about that all the time–how the way that we act and respond to situations has such an impact on how our kids will respond. If we’re positive then they’re more likely to be as well.
You hit the nail on the head Justine. They learn by our behaviors for sure. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. Time needs to slow down. I feel like summer time just got here.
Family time is so important. I love talking about our days at the dinner table after school and work!
Isn’t it great!!!
I know a lot of people who are always on the hunt for new places to get school clothes, this is a great list!! <3
Thanks so much for reading! Please feel free to share 🙂
Great tips! I love the idea of having a play break before I have my girls start homework. I will make sure to start a timer though because playtime might not end. Lol!
yeah, I definitely know that the timed play works out better for the kids I babysit and my siblings. It helps them understand the concept of time too! So, there’s a little “learning” too 🙂
love the wine idea (also here is a blogging hint – i clicked on the link to the wine club, have it open in a new window so the reader isnt taken away from your site) we are going to target next week with the lists to have my kids pick out their stuff. they are going into 1 and 3rd grade. def need new socks and undies too. probably some new clothes.
Thanks! ( I thought I had checked my links, but, apparently, I must’ve missed it.)
Clothes I feel like, are always needed because those kids grow so fast!
Great tips here from another teacher! I remember LOVING this time of year when I was a kid.
Thanks for reading! Me too. I always looked forward to checking out the new supplies.
I can’t believe its that time of year again! Time goes so fast! Thanks for sharing the great tips
Time is flying by soooooo quick
Some great ideas! I’ve been putting off shopping for my 1st grader and preschooler- I so needed the motivation! ?
Hope it helps! Thanks for sharing
Great post! My son is going to Kindergarten this year and I still can not believe it! W have a tax free weekend here in VA so I plan to get all his school stuff taken care of this weekend!
That’s awesome! I think they do that in Maryland too. I forgot about it though. Thanks for that reminder
Great tips! We have a fun tradition where we buy back to school pj’s – because we homeschool. I can find great deals at Carters and Children’s Place. I’m excited for a new year! Yay!
Yay for homeschooling! I homeschooled through middle and high school because I was traveling so much. I love the pj idea! Awesome
School is coming so fast, This will be my daughter’s first year in preschool.
So scary and exciting! Hope it goes well
My oldest will start school next year, but I like your tips which can be implemented even before being in school. Structure is so great for pretty much any age <3
Very true .They don’t have to be for school. Just good habits to get into! Thanks for bringing that up.
You are right on track. Back to school shopping should be seen as good planning and setting a foundation to be prepared for school. Good advice on parents being involved in helping their children develop good study habits.
Thanks for sharing and taking the time to read the post. We hope you enjoyed 🙂
This summer has flew by! It’s already time for me to return to China and teach a new year! Great tips especially about planning and setting up the sleep schedule before school. I helped my sister get her first planner. She was excited about the stickers, using different colors, etc. to organize her homework and tests!
I har to make a trip to target to get some materials to take to China. So much English materials in the dollar section. Love love love!
That’s awesome that you teach and China and yay for Target being affordable to help out your teaching programs. That’s so exciting and I bet it is very rewarding. Good luck with the new year and safe travels!
I get so sad when it’s back to school time! Getting ready the night before is really important as is having a calendar! The beginning of the school year is c-r-a-z-y and I’ve missed meetings because I didn’t write it down.
Oh no! Get a good planner girlfriend. We live by ours. I know I would miss appointments without it. I hope the school year gets better for you.
I always made school back to school shopping fun for my kids when they were younger. They got to pick out their own backpack and some “special” notebooks and folders with pictures on the covers. Of course they had to pick out some of the cheapies, too! Even in college, my daughter still loved school shopping. My son was fine with me picking out his stuff already in high school lol.
Lol, I was like you’re daughter- still loving college school supply shopping. Heck, I’m 28 and still enjoy when I have to go pick up those things— I know call them office supplies, since college is long gone haha.
These are great BTS tips!! I’m so glad we homeschool and I don’t usually have to fight the crowded stores for school supplies 🙂
Awesome Shell! Personally, I was homeschooled through middle and high school because I was traveling a lot and did martial arts. I am so glad I got to experience that as well.
Have to say, I LOVE Gymboree! My school-aged kids both wear uniforms to school but Gymboree is a big go-to for me in casual wear. Great advice!
Yes! Gymboree is awesome. Glad you guys love them too!
Back to school sales try to get me everytime. I homeschool my preschooler and help at head start. we are always watching sales. I learned to watch for clearance!
Even better idea! I usually try to stock up on the BTS clearance sales for supplies for the following year.
I love looking for back to school sales. They are one of favorite sales to take part in.
Lisa, we are on the same page! Yay for this time of year .
You gave a lot of great suggestions and lol I love that you added in the wine. 🙂
Thanks. You know, moms need to be taken care of too, during the school year especially. Things are always crazy and we need to remember to care for ourselves too…. even if it means sharing a bottle of wine with your partner 😉
Great Tips!!! I cannot believe my girls start school in two weeks. Where did the Summer go!!??! Thanks for sharing!! XO
I totally agree…playtime then homework time in the evenings for kids is beneficial. Great tips to start the sleep schedule like a soft school start!