The new school year is just around the corner! I like to plan and have things organized ahead of time, do you? These are just a few tips I came up with to help you get your home ready for back to school.
Getting the kids ready for back to school:
Get everyone new hair cuts. Fresh new ‘do for a fresh new school year!
Go through their dressers and closets. Toss or donate clothes that are too small. Check that coats still fit. Clear out old tattered shoes that don’t fit.
Make a list of clothing items you need to shop for.
Start waking them up earlier to get into the routine before the big first day back at school.
Have a picnic to “practice” using their lunch box and opening their own snacks. Most school lunch supervisors will help kids open their packaged snacks, but it is just better if your child can do ti on his own.
Work with your child to practice tying his own shoes (usually kindergarten or 1st grade). Of course, your child’s teacher will tie his shoelaces as needed. But it is a great step of independence and a source of pride for a child to be able to tie his own shoes.
Connect with the school:
Make sure paperwork and registration is complete.
Find out if the school has an online parent portal and how to access it.
Add money to school lunch accounts.
Talk with the school nurse about storing and giving medications (if any).
Print out district’s academic calendar for 2018-2019 school year.
Mark your family’s calendar with back to school night, school half-days and holiday breaks. Make a note of dates when you will need to find childcare or request time off work.
Getting the House Ready for Back to School:
Designate a spot for backpacks, such as a laundry basket or hooks by the door. We use these 3M hooks and they hold the backpacks just fins as long as there aren’t any heavy books inside.
Set up a homework station with supplies and a quiet place to do work.
Clear out a shelf for textbooks/library books.
Stock up on non perishable snacks.
Be sure and pin this post on getting your home ready for back to school, or print it out for later!
The first thumbnail below is suitable for printing on regular 8.5″ x 11″ paper. Just right-click and save! Or store the second one (a pdf) on your device and take advantage of digital checkboxes! Please let me know in the comments if there’s anything you would add to the list that might help other families.
This is the jpeg version!