What are you doing to prepare for “Back to School”?
I just got back from an afternoon of “Back to School” shopping with my younger three kids—entering 5th, 10th, and 11th grades—who start school on August 14! Where did the summer go???
I have begun figuring out what else needs to be done to help ease the transition back into school. If you are like me, there are mixed feelings: I like the freedom of summer and I also look forward to the kids jumping back into the school routine.
Here are some things that happen in my household to prepare for “Back to School” in order to make it as smooth as possible:
Start talking about the new school year. We ask our children about their hopes, expectations, and anxieties about starting the new school year…and try REALLY hard to listen and not lecture…to just provide the space.
Shop early to avoid the stress of last-minute shopping (I focus on clothes, grade-appropriate supplies, and backpacks/lunch bags).
Don’t buy everything now, because without fail the new teacher(s) will have their own lists of things your child needs/doesn’t need. My youngest son wants to buy everything under the store’s roof, but I know that too many items in his bag and desk worsen his natural lack of organization…
Begin going to bed earlier—this is for the kids and the parents! This helps reduce the morning yawns in the classroom…and at work. My older kids don’t seem to need too much sleep most of the time, but we make them go to bed earlier too.
Visualize and/or pray for a great school year. We pray for our kids and I like to visualize a successful year ahead. I express this vision to our children. They can do their own visualizations too!
Get ready to enjoy all the new things that are to come. I know as I reflect on each year, I think about how much our kids have grown, struggled, developed, matured, and changed. It can pretty much be guaranteed that more growth and change will happen this coming school year too!
Good luck and Happy “Back to School”!
Inspired Thought (please respond via comment): When do your children go back to school? If you don’t have children–does your life change when school is in session? What are you doing to prepare for “Back to School”?
I don’t have any children myself, but I always love the feeling of anticipation and excitement around the back-to-school season. If you are looking to avoid back-to-school shopping craziness I highly recommend ordering supplies online – it also eliminates the pressure to buy everything under the roof. There is nothing quite as fun as opening a box that has been delivered to you, whether you are a kid or an adult. I just wanted to say welcome to the Livefyre community Zeenat! Please let me know if you have any questions, I’m here to help. You can find me here livefyre .
@meghankrane @livefyre Thanks for visiting my blog and the tip about online shopping. I tend to like to buy “back to school” items in the store, but time and money could be saved buying online. Thanks!
I as a grandmother tend to watch the clearance racks anytime I do go shopping, which isn’t much as I tend to be a stay at home person. I found some “glee” folders at the end of the school year for 10 cents apiece. I work at one of the elementary schools after school child care program and they are ideal for a prize. The two grandsons wouldn’t really appreicate them and the kindergarten I have one put away for her when she needs a folder. Love your blogs Zeenat, even though I haven’t been very responsive. Thanks for all you do for everyone.
Thank you, Nancy! That means a lot!!!