BACK-TO-SCHOOL COUNTDOWN

Back to school means back to a normal routine, and I think most of us welcome the change. So how do we prep our families for this transition? We’ll do the brainstorming, so you can check things off your list and sail smoothly into the next season.

First of all, schedule those backto-school physicals and well visits for school registrations and upcoming sports and activities. Some doctor’s offices offer school physicals in a quicker time frame than a full well visit, so see what works best for your situation and get it scheduled soon. Now would also be a good time to look ahead to see when your child’s next dentist, orthodontist and ophthalmologist appointments are as you prepare your fall calendar. It’s also a good time to check the school district’s calendar for days school is out, so you can schedule childcare or camps for those days. If your child is in any fall activities, add those dates to the calendar while you’re at it—and maybe even look ahead to the holidays and mark special dates to be sure you don’t overlook anything as time seems to warp during the holiday season.

are just ready to go for your student on the first day of school. I think I’ve tried all these options, depending on the year and my energy level at the time. On top of the school supplies, it’s also time to check in on any clothing, shoe and activity equipment each child may need in the fall. Do your kids have enough socks? Does their underwear still fit? Do they need new shoes for P.E. or cleats for soccer?

Karen Hepp, mother of four, suggests, “We wash and clean out backpacks, take stock of any school supplies we can reuse or recycle, organize the pantry and fridge to prepare for lunch and snack prep, clear out closets and drawers and donate cold weather clothes that we’ve outgrown.”

Another errand to consider is haircuts. If your kids need trims or chops before school begins, get on the salon’s schedule now. If you make first-day-of-school signs for your kids to hold for photos on the big day, get those signs ready now.

Do your kids have enough socks? Does their underwear still fit? Do they need new shoes for P.E. or cleats for soccer?

Next, get a head start on back-to-school shopping before everything is picked over and you’re running out of time. Maybe you loved back-to-school shopping with your own mom when you were a kid and you enjoy this time with your own child. If you have more than one child, make it a little date with just one kid at a time and go out for a treat afterwards. Or perhaps backto-school shopping is a stressful chore for you that seems easier to do alone after the kids are in bed and the crowds are gone. Another great strategy is to see whether your school sells back-to-school kits that

As the first day gets closer, I recommend starting the family on the morning routine everyone will follow for school days. Early wakeup calls can be challenging for all of us. After all, late summer nights still beckon with seasonal fun. Getting up earlier means beginning the night before—I have to get back to having dinner a bit earlier and start the bedtime routines earlier even though it’s still so sunny and nice out. But winding down earlier, learning to wake up earlier in the morning and practicing getting out the door by school time just to go to a park or on an outing will make the adjustment to school all the easier when that first day rolls around. Jennifer Brooks, mother of three, agrees and says, “Start getting them up earlier and talk positively about going back to school.”

If your kids express any nervousness or concerns, try to address them before school begins. Sometimes just talking through their new schedule can help—or even doing a run-through of driving to the school and walking up to the door they will enter can help with anxieties and expectations. Julie Ulven, mother of one, says, “Begin waking up on time, drive the route to be sure of travel time, also to check the safest route to get there and back—we are in a new city. Make sure the school nurse has medications if needed throughout the day. Prep backpack and locker supplies for extra change of clothes or supplies for older girls. Talk to your kids about safety on the bus, in line, in the bathrooms, etc.

Make sure they know who to talk to if they are bullied or having a hard time.”

If your child is still unsure of the first day, try calling the school to see whether they will allow your student to tour the school or new classroom. Maybe your kids could meet their new teacher or counselor ahead of time to have some familiar faces on the first day. If this isn’t an option, be sure to at least attend the back-to-school night that most schools have.

Another tip I’ve seen from smart parents the past couple of years is to take the first-day-of-school pictures on your porch the night before, so you’re less frantic on that first day back. Have kids put on their first day outfits and hold their signs, or whatever your family tradition is, and get it done ahead of time.

One final tip from Susanna Berna, mother of two, is this: “Send the kids to camp or schedule a distraction for the final two weeks of summer when you are most likely to hear the word bored.” Having something fun to look forward to at the end of summer is a great distraction and will give you a chance to prepare all that needs to be done without bored children moping around the house.

Stephanie Loux is the mother of Layla, 13, Mason, 11, and Slade, 8, and is always disappointed to see summer leave but does enjoy the return of the routine of school, too.