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You know it’s coming. Just as we get used to those lazy, hazy days, that
fall chill will creep in, and the first day of school will be just around the
corner. While we’d all like to bury our heads in the summer sand and
stay on permanent holiday, our lives will be so much easier if we
embrace the inevitable and get organized for a successful school year.
So let’s sharpen our pencils and get started!
A Place for Everything:
Whether your resident scholar is going off to kindergarten for the first
time or is a seasoned high school veteran, it’s important to keep things
organized. Make sure you have a place for your child to do homework –
the kitchen or dining room table is fine. Don’t worry about your child
having a desk in her room. You want your child nearby so you can
monitor and support him, without the “Dad! Mom! I need help!” calls
from the bedroom.
School Supplies:
Ensure your child has pens, pencils, erasers, markers or crayons, glue
stick, scissors and a ruler handy. Even the youngest student can take
responsibility for a pencil box and its contents. Older students may
need a calculator and math kit (containing a compass and protractor)
as well.
Backpack Routine:
Now is the time to decide where the backpack will go each night before
bedtime. Right near your child’s shoes is always a good location, as it
cuts down on the chance of forgetting the bag at home! Please check
the school bag daily. There may be a note, permission slip or a piece of
leftover lunch. Trust me, you do not want to find that tuna sandwich
next Tuesday. Go through it nightly, or better yet, have your child
empty it and help file away the contents. Deal with papers right away.
If it’s trash, throw it out. Permission slips can be signed and placed
back in the bag immediately. If you need to send money but don’t have
it handy, put the information portion of the permission slip on the
fridge and send it the next day.
Most students have a planner or agenda that is used to record
homework and important school events. Find out how your child’s
school will use the planner. Do you need to sign it daily? Weekly? The
planner can be an effective way to communicate with your child’s
teacher, so ask if this is the best way to send and receive messages.
Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks:
Please make sure your child eats breakfast. It makes a huge difference
in their ability to learn and focus. A hungry child simply cannot
concentrate.
Make sure that there are healthy foods for lunch, like fruits and cut up
veggies, whole wheat sandwiches or wraps, and water or juice. Send
snacks for recess times that are easy for your child to access, like
raisins, fruit, or a granola bar. Pack lunches in the evening. Older
children should be expected to prepare their own lunch, or at least
contribute to the preparation. Kids who pack their own lunch and
snacks are less likely to waste food because they don’t like something.
Label, Label, Label:
For the younger set, label EVERYTHING: the backpack, lunch bag, lunch
and snack containers, and clothing, particularly outerwear and gym
clothes. Items WILL be lost, and having your child’s name on
everything will ensure a less frustrating trip to the lost and found.
When sending money to school, place it in an envelope or small baggie
with both your child’s name and teacher’s name on the outside.
What to Wear:
If your child goes to a school where a uniform is required, then breathe
easy. You will not have the tortuous “But I don’t have anything to
wear!” trauma at 7:30 a.m. But for the rest of us, there are ways to
ensure a smoother morning. When shopping for back to school items,
buy the basics. A few pairs of pants, shirts and sweaters should do it.
The girlier girls might want the occasional skirt or dress, but remember
that they should be clothes that are appropriate for play and work.
Don’t send your child in any clothes that can’t get messy other than on
picture day. School is a busy place and there may be remnants of your
child’s day on the clothes. Be aware of your school’s dress code as
well. Many schools don’t allow ‘spaghetti straps’ or short skirts/shorts,
even for young children.
It’s one more thing to do, but it really does help to choose clothes the
night before. Give your child a couple of options and once chosen, stick
to the choices in the morning.
Morning Routine:
Schedule your mornings as if they were business meetings. How much
time do you need to get everyone ready, including yourself? While
extra sleep is delicious, it may be helpful to have the parents get ready
first, while the kids are still in bed.
Have your children do as much for themselves as is appropriate for
their age. Older children can be expected to dress themselves, brush
their teeth and prepare a simple breakfast of cereal and juice. The
younger kids need help with every step, so make sure you build in
enough time to get it all done. Beware of the television in the
mornings – know if it helps to move things along for your family or just
slows things down.
Taking some time before school starts to plan your family routines will
help your children get excited and ready for school. If you are
organized, life will be so much easier. And if you’re not, just ‘fake it ‘til
you make it’! Have a wonderful school year!
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