25 Ways to Prepare Children for a New School Year

A new school year is upon us, and it is time to start making preparations for a successful year. Getting your child ready for a new school year well in advance is a great way to ease back to school worry and anxiety. If you are ready to get your child into back to school mode, take a look below at these 25 ways to prepare children for a new school year. These tips will help ease your child back into the transition of school and all of the responsibilities that come with it!

25 Ways to Prepare Children for a New School Year

1. Enjoy some back to school themed books together. Your local library should have plenty of recommendations of child friendly back to school books.

2. Create a list of back to school lunches you would like to try. Bring your child in on the planning and let them suggest ideas as well. Here are some tips for saving money on sack lunches.

3. Start checking off your supply list. Make a note of the items you still need to buy and place it somewhere prominent.

4. Start touching base with other parents and students your child will be attending with. Arrange a get together for everyone to get reacquainted.

5. Get your back to school clothing items organized into dressers and drawers. Make a note of any items you still need to get. Label items so children can easily find them and get their own clothing items out each morning. Here are tips for saving money on school clothes.

6. Let your child send a letter to their new teacher. Just have them write a letter introducing themselves and send it to the school. If you wish, you can even share with the teacher this list of freebies and discounts for teachers.

7. Drive by the school if possible and walk the grounds. Talk about goals for next year and ask what the child is looking forward to.

8. Start a back to school journal. Have your child keep note of their goals and even their worries. It will help to write all of these feelings down. Have your child share their journal with you if they wish. For more tips on journaling check out How to Make a Gratitude Journal.

9. Start establishing a bedtime routine so it is second nature when back to school week arrives.

10. Organize toiletries such as toothbrushes and hair brushes so morning routines can go smoothly. Label bins so children can easily return the items themselves. Here are more tips for organizing your bathroom.

11. Start establishing a wake up routine, waking children up even an hour earlier than they are use to. It will help when they need to start waking up early again. Here are some tips for becoming a morning person.

12. Make a list of easy and nutritious breakfast ideas so children can be well fueled in the mornings. Let children in on the planning.

13. Establish a homework station in the house for children to use each night and to keep their materials organized at. Here is an easy DIY desk tutorial.

14. Organize a command center or file for important papers to be kept and filed in for easy access. Let children know that this is where all important papers are suppose to go.

15. Compile a list of important numbers like the school, car pool parents, and coaches. Keep them in the command center for easy access. Show children these numbers so they are familiar with them and see who else they can count on for support.

16. Be sure you are on all social media sites for the school and on all email lists for any notifications or newsletters that go out.

17. Make sure all health forms have been submitted to your family doctor so you have them on time for the first day of school. Schedule your child’s back to school physical if needed.

18. Buy and organize your lunch supplies such as the lunch box, baggies, plastic containers and water bottles. Let children help with this organizing so they know where items are too.

19. Schedule those back to school hair cuts for a fresh and clean first day of school look.

20. Help children give their computers and electronics a good, safe cleaning.

21. Start a back to school countdown chain to help build excitement and anticipation.

22. Find a child friendly back to school or school themed movie to enjoy as a family.

23. Find a local playground or play spot perfect for blowing off steam after those first few days of school.

24. Have a back to school bash. Make snacks, play fun music, and play simple games to let loose and have fun.

25. Take a picture of your child with their biggest smile so you can have it to compare to their end of the year photo.

Give these 25 ways to prepare your child for a new school year a try and you will find that going back to school doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it can be quite a fun and enjoyable experience.