Back to School

by Janice R Newman

Now that the summer is coming to an end, it’s time to transition back into a routine for the family with school starting within days. Transitioning back to school can be a stressful time for the entire family, but with some planning and organization, you can make the process smoother and more stress-free. A well-designed routine and being prepared can ease the stress of the transition, promote effective time management for both parents and children, enhance communication with the family, and provide a sense of stability and unity. Here are some tips to help you with a stress-free transition to a school routine.

• Start Routine Early: Establish a routine and schedule a week or two before school starts with an early bedtime, set an eating schedule, study time, and prepare for the next day. Create and print out a schedule to make the entire family aware. Include in the schedule times for dinner, baths, studying, leisure, and sleep times. Limit excessive screen time before bedtime to ensure quality sleep. An adequate amount of sleep is necessary for students to be alert and have increased focus throughout the day. Adjust the sleeping time accordingly to your child’s energy levels.

• Organize Your Space: Set up designated areas for bookbags, lunch bags, shoes, homework, paperwork, and clothes for the next day. Mark special school events on a shared family calendar. Also, utilize a shared calendar app so everyone is on the same page, plus new appointments or events can be updated immediately. Post the school lunch menu monthly to help prepare for days to pack a lunch. Establish an area for studying away from distractions to increase productivity.

• Budget by Shopping for Discounts: Create a realistic budget for the school year. Save money by purchasing school supplies and clothes on sale, clearance racks, or at thrift stores. Download store apps for discounts and coupons. Search The Shopper for garage sales and church rummage sales or special back-to-school events at the township for giveaways or activities. Take an inventory of the school supplies and clothes you have from the prior year to determine what is needed and can be used instead of buying everything new again. Avoid applying for new credit or overextending yourself with purchases, as the additional expenses will also contribute to financial stress.

• Make Connections

Early: If possible, save time and money by carpooling with other parents for school and activities. This will reduce stress related to traffic and parking, plus give you a few moments for yourself for self-care. Establish relationships with other parents, friends, family, and teachers to provide a support network for help, emotional assistance, and advice. Establish a good rapport with the teachers for good communication.

• Planning: Plan outfits and meal preparations ahead of time. This will avoid last-minute searches for clean clothes or matching socks. Planning and preparing meals for the week over the weekend can save time and money. Meals can be cooked in batches, set in individual food containers, and frozen for easy reheating. This will reduce time, food waste, and allow for planning nutritional meals.

Unfortunately, summer vacations allow us to break lots of routines by staying up late, not studying, and not being organized. Then with two weeks to go, we rush to establish some resemblance of a routine to bring normalcy back to the household. A routine helps us manage our time more efficiently and can boost productivity by eliminating the need to constantly decide what to do. It can contribute to promoting stability, self-control, and facilitate the development of healthy habits. The earlier the routine is established, the faster you can streamline your family’s transition to a school routine, promote a stress-free environment, and save valuable time and money in the process. Y? Why Not!

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