Kids Ready for School?

 

The last part of summer is upon us and it’s hard to believe it’s coming to an end.  There are still places to go and things

to do, so when are we supposed to get the kids ready for going back to school?  Relax, with a little planning, you’ll be fine.  Make the most of the time that’s left stress free by doing a few checks and balances in advance and building a

game plan. 

 

Take Inventory

A little planning can go a long way to reduce stress and keep things progressing.  During the first part of August, take some time together to account for the following:

 

• Clothes in the closets and dressers that no longer fit, care about anymore or are too worn.  Decide to let them go to make room for the things that are needed

• How many school supplies can still be used from last year?  Round them up and see if binders are still sturdy, there’s enough paper in notebooks and that the pens actually have ink in them

• Are their study areas cluttered?  If so, what items can be eliminated such as toys that are no longer favorites.  Can any items be relocated to create more space in that area, maybe into the closet or to another part of the room?  Homework will have a different sense of importance if this area is clear of excess stuff to encourage concentration without additional distractions

• What’s on tap for activities?  Do the soccer shoes still fit?  Do you need a gym bag of some sort to store all of the components in one place so there’s less chance of misplacing something?

 

Schedule Enough Time

Shopping for school clothes and supplies can be another fun component to summer when you work it into your calendar with a reasonable amount of time to get it done.

 

• Once you know what you need to buy, put a date or two on the calendar

• Be realistic.  Squeezing it in or waiting until the last minute will create stress and make the task overwhelming.  Believing that you can accomplish this in one fell swoop at one store or between birthday parties is probably not going to happen.  There will undoubtedly be a few things that you will have to find at an additional store or two, taking more time than first thought.

• The sooner you go, the more supplies will be available in the store.  The longer you wait, you will most likely find yourself driving extra miles to compile all of the supplies on your list.  Remember, everyone else is doing the same thing you are

 

Make it an Outing

Take your time and have fun with your kids as you get them ready for school.  Have lunch together, go for an ice cream, plan to see a movie afterwards or go to the park to celebrate your accomplishments.  So, get out that calendar, whether it be on Google or paper, and set your strategy for making a seamless transition to fall and send your kids off with a smile!

 

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