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Nine steps to a smart start

With a little planning, you can make going back to school simple and stress-free.
By GreatSchools Staff
 

As the lazy days of summer slip away, it will soon be time to put away the beach chairs and corner lemonade stands and prepare for going back to school. Here are some tips to make the transition easier.

Adjust to the new routine

Ease into the school-year schedule. Getting back into the school routine can be a challenge for everyone in the family. To make the adjustment easier, start early.

GreatSchools tip

Start a family calendar in a common area where each family member can write down his or her activities.

  • A few weeks before school starts, move bedtime back to an earlier time.
  • Put a positive spin on going back to school. Talk about the fun things your child will learn, the old friends he'll see and the new friends he'll make.
  • If your child is anxious about starting the next grade, reassure her that other children have these feelings too.
  • Don't make plans for big trips right before the start of school.
  • Establish school-day schedules for homework, TV, baths and bedtime.
  • Arrange play dates with friends from school to re-establish connections that may have been dropped for the summer, or to create new ones.

Hit the books

For the younger child, reading books together about going back to school is a good way to start conversations about his excitement and fears. To get you started, here are some suggestions for elementary-school–age children:

  • Berenstain, Stan and Jan. The Berenstain Bears Go to School (Random House, 1978)
  • Brown, Marc. Arthur's Teacher Trouble (Trumpet, 1986)
  • Bridwell, Norman. Clifford's First School Day (Scholastic, 1999)
  • Haywood, Carolyn. Back to School With Betsy (Odyssey Classics, reissue edition, 2004)
  • Howe, James. The Day the Teacher Went Bananas (Penguin, 1987)
  • Jackson, Ellen. It's Back to School We Go! (Millbrook Press, 2003)
  • Parish, Herman. Amelia Bedelia Goes Back to School (Harper Festival, 2004)
  • Rey, Margret. Curious George Goes to School (Houghton Mifflin, 1989)

For the middle school child anxious about making the transition to high school, here is a book bound to help with easing the anxiety:

Spethman, Martin J., and Klein, Chuck. High School Bound: The Ultimate Guide for High School Success and Survival (Westgate Publishing & Entertainment, 1997)

Get organized

Take advantage of the slower pace during your time away from school to set up for the busy school year ahead.

  • Many schools send out school information and a packet of forms to fill out before school starts. If you can discipline yourself to fill out the paperwork several days before it's due, you'll avoid a last-minute panic.
  • Have the necessary immunization records available for easy reference.
  • Update school emergency contact and health information for the coming year.
  • As you read through all the school information, mark important dates (such as back-to-school night, parent-teacher conferences and school holidays) on the family calendar.
  • Start a folder for school newsletters and other papers so that you can easily find and refer to them if necessary.
  • Establish a "get ready the night before" policy. Pick clothes for the next day and pack the backpack every evening before bedtime, and you'll save precious time in the morning.
 
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Comments from GreatSchools.net readers

08/27/2009:
"Year after year the moms fight over the title of 'class mom' only to realize that it is more than they can handle or not as glamorous as it sounds. Last year I suggested that my class mom use the volunteer forms found at www.signupgenius.com/backtoschool Of course my class mom was great, but we had more participation from the other parents than we have ever had, and it seems that we seldom heard the excuse 'I forgot' We always had plenty of volunteers, tissues, glue sticks, snacks and juice boxes. As the new school year roll around, I am including the link in all my paperwork to ensure that everyone knows to expect emails and reminders from our class mom using sign up genius. I am going to present it to other teachers and hopefully their class moms will be agreeable to organizing the classroom activities in a super manner! "
07/30/2009:
"This article was a great amount of help for what to do when school starts. It helped me know what to expect to do when school starts to begin."
07/24/2009:
"Why is it a bad idea to take a trip right before school starts? What if one week before school starts is the only time a parent could get vacation time?"
07/23/2009:
"good lists 2 help prepare 4 start of school!"
07/21/2009:
"Thank you so much Great Schools for all the wonderfully insightful information that you share with us parents who desire to learn and grow with our children’s ever changing needs, for a well balanced educational experience. Terrye Black Hawk, Colorado "
07/21/2009:
"Great article! Right on track with most of the things we already do and they have been working well thus far. My son was in a private christian school since 3 years old and is now headed to 3rd grade at a public school for the first time. I think he will adjust. Your tips really confirm some things for us! Thank you!"
07/30/2008:
"I really like the transition information!! Super job!! "
07/30/2008:
"All pretty good advice with the exception of 'Sneak vegetables like lettuce, cucumber or zucchini slices into sandwiches.' This was almost laughable! Our children are [typically conscious and] aware of what goes in their mouths, and we arent talking adding 'invisible' ingredients (e.g., cauliflower in the mashed potatoes). "
08/10/2004:
"Thank you for making the transition for school easier for our modern day children. It's a tremendous help to get them back into the learning mode. Hats off to you.... "
09/12/2003:
"When my son Shane was 3, his older brother Jarrett would have homework. So, afterschool we had our homework time with Jarrett doing his school assigned homework, and Shane doing his 'homework', which consisted of coloring, shapes, and the basics. When Shane started school he was already used to 'homework time'. This is a simple tip for parents who already have one child in school, and a sibling starting school in the future. "
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