Back To School Guide.

I’ve always felt like the Fall was a special time of year; a fresh start… a new beginning! Most people feel that way about January but as someone who has spent their life living and breathing a school calendar — first as a student and then as a teacher for 12 years — there’s just something refreshing about September. There’s a renewed energy that this time, this month, this year daily planners will be filled out, lunches will be made the night before, new school clothes will be laid out on the bed for the next day, backpacks will be ready and waiting for an early departure and everyone will have everything they need to have a successful, peaceful and seamless day. It’s the dream, right?

Now with three kids of my own and my first who is starting Kindergarten (what?!), it’s really the dream! I’ve spent the last few weeks brainstorming some routines, tips and tricks (traditions and gifts!) to get ourselves off on the right track and I thought I’d share here. So here goes a pretty comprehensive Back to School Guide:

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PREPARE THE ENVIRONMENT: backpack station, lunchbox station, a work space, for school

Backpack station – It’s important to have a space for children’s backpacks to live while not in use. We have a small cubby area in our entryway for backpacks, shoes, jackets, etc. but a few 3M command hooks will work perfectly! Just make sure they are easily accessible (not too high.) In the beginning, your child will need reminders “your backpack hangs on the hook.” I hear people have to remind teenagers of this too… but we’re not there yet! 🙂

Lunchbox station – Before the backpack makes its way to its rightful hook, make sure your child knows where to drop off their used lunch containers and water bottle from the day. In our house, it’s just the kitchen counter. But when those lunch containers make it to the counter before dinner time, they are sure to be washed and ready for the next day!

Work space – I’m not sure what requirements will be as a Kindergarten family, but I know in many instances, children will need a quiet work space to complete some work or independent reading after school. We have an art area on our main floor with a table, a stool and our art supplies. I’ve put together a small pencil box with some school supplies: pencils, pencil sharpener, glue sticks, erasers, etc. in case he needs to get some work done at home.

For school – Make sure to grab all the school supplies your child’s teacher has requested. Most classrooms will give you a specific list of must-haves along with some might be nice to have supplies, too. Be sure to label EVERYTHING — from school supplies, to clothing, to lunch containers. For a few days, I just carry a sharpie around with me and write his name on things as I think of it.

ESTABLISH ROUTINES: bedtime, morning time, breakfast, lunchtime

Bedtime – We have a pretty solid bedtime routine that has been in effect for years now and it’s working well so we haven’t adapted it. The AAP recommends that children between 6-12 years old get between 9-12 hours of sleep within a 24-hour cycle. The easiest way to figure out a bedtime is to figure out what time your child needs to wake up and then work backwards. Our bedtime is 7PM and typically, everyone is asleep by 7:30PM. Warm baths, a bedtime story, and avoiding screens before lights out can all help establish an easier bedtime routine.

Morning – There’s nothing worse than a chaotic morning. Visual checklists can really help young children complete their necessary tasks without adults repeating themselves again and again or becoming frustrated. I made these ones pretty quickly! Download them for free! The one on the left lists things he needs to do, and the list on the right includes items he needs to bring with him to school. I added some velcro strips onto the back of each picture and my son moves the photos from the left column to the right column as he completes the item.

Breakfast – We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day! So let’s treat it as such. If there is something I’m not — it’s a food blogger! But the internet gives such brilliant tips for quick and easy breakfast ideas for kids. Our general rule is to include a protein, a carb and a fruit. I know other families have their own guidelines they follow. I find that offering two choices for each food category gives a bit more success than just telling a child “here, eat this.” We have a breakfast/snack station, so our kids help themselves and we add hot food like pancakes, eggs or waffles (if that’s a choice.)

Plan for lunchtime – There are two parts of a lunchtime routine: the first is the actual lunch part, the second is the actual time part. We’ve been practicing having lunch in our lunch containers and eating within a certain timeframe. In our district, children have 25 minutes to walk to the cafeteria, unpack their lunch, eat their lunch, and walk back to class. Not to mention… socialize! So we’ve been practicing opening and closing lunch containers, and eating within that allotted timeframe. We’ve been practicing with this visual timer. Again, you can find such great lunch ideas online but I tend to go for things that are simple, easy to eat and that I know he likes. School isn’t the place to “try” new foods or to send those leftovers he didn’t even enjoy last night when the food was fresh. 

bentgo box // lunchbox // small food containers // dressing containers // water bottle // slim ice packs // silverware // cloths for napkins

THE NIGHT BEFORE: pack bags, choose clothes

Pack bags – After dinner is the best time to prepare lunches for the next day. I put lunches together while the dishes from dinner are still all over the place, that way I only “clean-up” once. It’s also the best time to make sure jackets and shoes are where they need to be, too. If the weather is going to drastically change (rain in the forecast or a huge change in temperature, for example), find their rain jacket and rain boots or a hat and gloves NOW rather than tomorrow morning.

Clothes – We pick out one outfit each night for the next day. My son puts his clothes in the bathroom, so that after breakfast and brushing his teeth, he can get dressed. I shop for simple (no frills) clothes from Old Navy, H&M, Zara kids, and Primary. Easy pull-on clothes and shoes without buttons or snaps or ties or buckles is really the way to go! I know kids clothing can be so appealing… but I promise you, your child (and their teachers) will be so grateful if their clothes are simple, fit appropriately, and can get messy.  

3 pack shirts // 3 pack long sleeve shirts // Corduroy pants // 3 pack pants // Puffer vest // Puffer jacket // Sneakers // Masks

5 pack shirts // 5 pack long sleeve shirts // 5 pack leggings // 3 pack dresses // denim jacket // disposable face masks // sneakers // headbands

CONVERSATION STARTERS: what kids need to know, book ideas, questions to get your kids talking

Need to know – I know a lot of people say kids should know how to write their name, know all their sounds and letters, and be able to count to 10 before they go to Kindergarten. I don’t really agree. I mean, if they know those things, great! But my list is different. Here are things I think every child should know/have experience with before they leave you for the day. 

1. Their name, address and teacher’s name. Especially if they are taking a bus to school it’s important they can communicate their name and where they’re going to whoever is receiving them on school property. It’s also important that when they take the bus home, they know where they live!

2. How to be as independent, as possible. From dressing to taking care of their needs in the bathroom, to opening their lunch containers and water bottles. Equally as important: knowing when and how to ask for help.

3. How to read the room. This is a major life skill. It’s so important that when anyone walks into a room (classroom or otherwise) they adapt to the environment. This doesn’t mean you have to blend in or that you can’t influence the space… but if the room is quiet, it’s inappropriate to burst in, laughing and shouting. If someone is upset, it’s inappropriate to start talking about something funny. “Reading a room” is essential.

4. How to wait. Waiting is so hard. It’s uncomfortable and sometimes even unnatural. But it’s important to experience waiting. Children need to wait for turns, wait for help, wait to talk, wait while a story is being read, wait for snack time. The list goes on. 

5. Body safety and personal boundaries. Start talking about these things NOW, if you haven’t already. We talk a lot about not keeping secrets and that no one needs to see the parts of your body that your bathing suit covers. It’s also a great time to talk about personal boundaries and about words like no and stop; how to say them loudly and how to stop and respect those words if they are said to you.

Going back to school during Coronavirus // School’s first day of school // Butterflies on the first day of school // The day you begin // The pigeon has to go to school // The invisible string // The kissing hand // My mouth is a volcano // The king of kindergarten // A letter from your teacher // Our class is a family // Lola goes to school // Interrupting chicken // The invisible boy

Books – Whether it’s their first time going to school ever, riding the bus, going back to a familiar place after a year and some months of virtual schooling or just mid-pandemic back to school nerves… feel them. One of the best ways to open up a conversation with young children is through books.

Questions to ask – We’ve all been there — we get so excited over our child’s trip without us (maybe to Grandma’s house, or to the playground, summer camp… or school) and when we see them we drill them with 20 questions: What did you do? How was it? Did you make a friend?… only to be met with I don’t know. I forget. No. Ah! Here are some other open-ended questions you can ask your child after school each day that might just get their mouths chatting.

What was your favorite part of the day?

Where did you eat snack?

How did the day make you feel?

Did anything so funny happen?

What did you play at recess?

Did you talk to your teacher? What did you say?

Another tip: don’t ask right away. Wait until after they’ve had their afternoon snack and some time to unwind!

PREPARED ADULT: get organized, traditions & keepsakes, one on one time, teacher gifts

sharpies // planner // menu board // clothing labels // gear labels // grocery list

Get organized – I already said it once, but seriously, grab a sharpie and start writing your child’s name on everything they own. I prefer to just write our last name on lunch containers and water bottles so that any of my kids can use them should they need to. But on clothes, school supplies, and shoes, I write first names. Also, now is the time to start with your lists; whether you prefer handwriting things out or to do it all digitally (that’s my preference), start! From important school dates and deadlines to meetings to menu planning for the week. Start habit stacking now. AND, don’t forget to fill out all your child’s school forms.

Keepsakes – There is a time and place for some of these traditions and if they are stressful to begin or to keep up… I say pass them by. But if there’s energy to be spent and there’s interest, here are some back to school traditions I’ve come across. They are mostly geared toward remembering the moment and measuring time — handprints and growth charts, but also include small tokens for a child who might be anxious about separating from you. 

chalkboard // matching bracelets // grow with me handprint shirt // growth chart // first day of school handprint // Hope and dreams // matching dinosaur bracelets // worry button 

One on one time – Truthfully, this isn’t realistic for me since I have 3 kids but it would be sweet to have a little one on one day date after the first day of school. Whether you go out for ice cream together (or with the whole family), wake up to a favored breakfast treat or have a fancy dinner — it’s really all about some good quality time on the first day of school. Also fun: talking about the highs and lows of the day. We do this nearly every day at dinner time and find that it’s a great way to recap the day. You should model how this works, too! So make sure you get a turn to talk.

felt tip pens // dry erase markers // highlighters // sticky notes // kleenex // ziploc bags // hand sanitizer // gift cards // clorox wipes // cardstock 

Teacher gifts – As a former teacher, I can truly say that a gift was never expected and was always appreciated. It didn’t really matter what it was, it was nice to be thought of. Some other ideas are gift cards to small shops and/or restaurants local to your area or a plant for the classroom.

What would you add to this Back to School Guide?