Helpful Back to School Guide

Before you head out to the mall for new clothes, have each child try on the clothes they haven’t worn since last year. As you find items that no longer fit, set them aside to bring to a consignment shop or donate them to charity. If you find that you do need to purchase a few items, pay attention to the back-to-school sales.

If you need to have forms signed by your child’s pediatrician, send them to your doctor’s office as soon as possible. Note that some doctor’s are now charging for this service. Also, if your child has a food allergy, contact your child’s teacher before the school year begins to discuss any necessary precautions.

You can get a list of the specific school supplies your child will need from the school secretary or teacher. Items you’ll need to pick up may included backpacks, binders, and planners, in addition to the regular assortment of pencils, crayons, glue, and scissors.

Double check that your child care provider knows what day school starts, and understands when you’ll need him or her to be available. In addition, take the time to confirm his or her pay rate and your planned payment schedule.

If your kids are extremely reluctant to get up in the morning, consider using an alarm clock with gradually increasing sound, or use a timer to make their bedside lamp turn on just before you want them to wake up.

First, you'll need to decide whether you need to purchase new lunchboxes. If you do, make sure you look for one that says lead-free on the label. Some vinyl lunchboxes give off a lead residue, which you don't want near your kids' food! Also, begin to plan what you'll include in your kid's lunches, and stock up on extra lunchbox staples, like fruit cups and granola bars, when you see them on sale.

This can help to get everyone out the door a little faster in the morning. If you’re gotten behind in doing the laundry, or you have a lot of ironing to do, take some time to complete this task before school begins. Also, consider purchasing a wrinkle-release spray for the kids’ clothes, which may not really need to be ironed on a regular basis.

Your calendar is a great tool for staying organized and managing the kids’ busy schedules. Take the time to add school-related items to your calendar, like half-days and holidays. Also, fill in your kids’ regular activities, like soccer practice, ballet, or karate. Get into the habit of looking at your calendar each evening to be sure you know what is coming up the next day.

You'll want to be sure your kids are getting plenty of sleep when school starts. If your kids have been staying up extra late this summer, you want to gradually move their bedtimes up by about fifteen minutes a night. This will make bedtimes easier on you when school begins, and it will help relieve the back-to-school jitters and insomnia.