How to Prepare for Back to School

  • July 30, 2010
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Ease your children back into their school schedule with these parent-tested tips.

You Will Need

  • Sleep schedule adjustments
  • Shopping spree
  • Clean homework area
  • Playdates
  • Homemade frozen dinners
  • Composure
  • Fun morning activities (optional)
  • New gadget (optional)
  • Teacher meeting (optional)
How to Prepare for Back to School: Reset their body clock

Step 1: Reset their body clock

If your children have been staying up late and sleeping in all summer, reset their body clocks: Starting two weeks before school, send them to bed a little bit earlier every night — and get them up a little earlier every morning — until they’re back on a school-day schedule.

Get them used to the impending morning rush by planning early-morning activities they’ll want to jump out of bed for.

How to Prepare for Back to School: Take them shopping

Step 2: Take them shopping

Take them shopping for school supplies and, if your budget permits, a few new back-to-school clothes. Let them have a say in the selection process to get them excited about the return to the classroom.

How to Prepare for Back to School: Prepare their work area

Step 3: Prepare their work area

Help them prepare the area where they’ll be doing their homework, especially if they seem anxious about the upcoming year. Having a clean, organized space with some new supplies may help ease their nerves — and might even get them excited about a fresh start.

Surprise them with a new electronic gadget that can be used to do homework. Check out websites like eBay and Craigslist for bargains.

How to Prepare for Back to School: Set up playdates

Step 4: Set up playdates

Set up playdates with school friends they haven’t seen all summer to remind them that the school year has its fun side.

If you’re child is starting at a new school, see if it’s possible to have them meet their new teacher before the school year starts.

How to Prepare for Back to School: Cook ahead

Step 5: Cook ahead

Make double batches of meals now so you can quickly defrost dinner during those first hectic days.

How to Prepare for Back to School: Tamp down your own fears

Step 6: Tamp down your own fears

Keep any of your own anxieties about the upcoming school year to yourself. Children take their lead from you; if you seem composed, it may alleviate their own fears.

Up to 18 percent of children display anxiety over returning to school in the fall that can lead them to be disruptive in class, according to one study.

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