3 Weeks Ahead:
Shop for school clothes. Make sure to check your child’s school dress policy. Many public schools even require a certain ‘uniform’ for their students. Be sure to know what the requirements are before you hit the stores.
Be sure to also hit up all of the personal hygiene products. New toothbrush, mouthwash, deodorant, skin-care and hair essentials are a must to make the right 1st day impression.
Set up a dedicated study area. Whether it is off the kitchen or in the upstairs study, a designated area for your child to tackle his/her homework is essential for success this school year. Involve them in the set-up process to make sure they feel comfortable, too.
2 Weeks Ahead:
Organize your entryway/mudroom. Designate a place for discarded shoes, backpacks, hats, etc. Come up with a system for everything has a place, so there won’t be any crazy mornings when they can’t find their art project or library book, before it is too late!
Pick up a new backpack. This is a big deal. Almost bigger than clothes since they will have to drag this to school every day of the year. There are a million choices out there. Again, check with your school to make sure there are no restrictions. Then, hit the stores or better yet, shop online!
Once you have ‘the’ backpack, make sure to pack it with all of the essentials. If your child is a bit accident prone, throw in a small first aid kit. A stinky one, throw in a small toiletry bag with travel size toothbrush, mouthwash and deodorant for those long days. Then, also some extra pencils, erasers and ruler, for good measure!
Come up with your schedule. Especially if you are heading to a new school, you will not be quite sure about traffic or where you are going. Make a couple of dry runs. Take your child with you. Walk around the campus to make sure they are comfortable and talk about what they can expect to happen that first day.
Is your kid a morning person or a night owl? If it’s the latter, start tucking them in a little earlier to get them back on school schedule and off those late summer nights. I promise, you will thank me for this one!
1 Week Ahead:
Set your calendar. Download the school’s academic calendar and start plugging in those important dates. If you have multiple children, in multiple schools, it can get really confusing!
Get ready for school lunches. Does everyone have the lunchbox they need/want? Make sure all your thermoses and water bottles are still in top shape. Do you have enough containers for all their snacks and goodies? Are they going to be packing their own lunches this year? If so, I suggest a couple of dry runs to make sure they don’t wind up with all sugar and Cheetos!
We wish you a great 2019-2020 school year!
