The first day of school: That phrase elicits anticipation, excitement and delight, but only if you and your child are prepared for the back-to-school launch.
Plan ahead, start the back-to-school readiness plan early and use a checklist to ensure you don't forget any important tasks. By the first day of school, you and your child will have plenty of time left to get excited about a new adventure.
Buying Back-to-School Clothes
There is a perfect time to tackle back-to-school clothes shopping – not too early or you’ll be out of season and your children will change their minds, and not too late or all the shelves will be empty. There’s also a perfect balance between what your child wants to wear to school and how you’d like to see him dress. Plan ahead, take your time and everyone wins.
- School sometimes starts before the change of seasons. Does your child have enough seasonally appropriate clothes to start out the first few weeks of school?
- Save money by pre-planning your child’s wardrobe, with some name brands and some less expensive generic clothes, buying items on sale, and shopping at discount and consignment stores.
- Does he have the right shoes for school, gym class and sports?
- Are there any uniforms or special clothing he needs for phys ed, athletics, organizations or groups?
- Be sure you know the school dress code for the upcoming year, so all of your child’s new clothes can be worn to school.
- How is his stock of underwear and sox? Fall is a good time to throw out old underwear and stock up on new.
Buying Back-to-School Supplies
Schools today are quite specific about what supplies are required. Your child will need all the supplies and tools required in order to have a successful school year.
- If you’re lucky enough to be provided with a school supplies list, take it with you to the store and only buy what’s on the list.
- If your list comes later, buy a few spiral notebooks and pencils to get them started on the first day.
- Buy in bulk and at a discount store the things you know you’ll need throughout the year – notebook paper, pencils, crayons, etc.
- How is your child’s backpack from last year holding up? Unless it’s completely trashed, try to get a few more months out of it.
- Don’t forget lunch. If your child will be taking a packed lunchbox lunch, be sure he has a lunch bag or container that’s usable.
Meeting the School’s Requirements
Most schools post requirements in a handbook. Get a copy of your school's handbook, read it over and keep it handy for reference throughout the year.
- Get your child a physical before school starts. Even if your school doesn’t require it, the end of the summer is a good time to get that clean bill of health. Have your child immunized to meet the school district’s requirements. Get prescriptions updated and refilled and have them ready for the school nurse.
- Get your child’s schedule and go over it before school starts. Make some extra copies of a map of the school and have him pencil in the route he’ll take from class to class during the day. This is even helpful for elementary children, to put their mind at ease and soothe first-day-of-school jitters.
- Be aware of the school’s policy on absences and calling in your child absent, dress code, discipline procedure and other items from the school handbook.
- Be sure the school has emergency contact information and updated phone numbers.
Set a School Year Schedule
- Plan what time you and your child have to wake up in order to have a calm, organized morning routine. Your child will need plenty of sleep, a good breakfast and a stress-free morning to handle the first day of school.
- Set out your child’s backpack, full of his school supplies unwrapped and ready, near the door. Set out his clothes the night before. Don’t leave any task for the morning.
- Get a family calendar, planner or organizer and fill in school activities, sports and extra-curricular activities so you and your child know what’s coming up.
- Set a time and place for homework. Have a good dictionary and some school supplies at home for your child’s use.
In addition to getting your child physically ready for the first day of school, talk positively with your child about school and the start of a new year. Let him help you go over the checklist, so he’ll feel prepared for the first day. The first day of school is the beginning of your child’s new adventure.
