Heading back to school brings mixed emotions for everyone. Unfortunately, it can be a very stressful time for both parents and children, making it easy to lose sight of the joy that comes with learning new things and seeing old friends again. We’re sharing our top 7 tips for a stress-free back to school week to make the transition easier on everyone.
1. Go to Bed Early.
If your family has spent summer nights staying up late with friends, watching family movies, or traveling, start easing into a more regular bedtime 1-2 weeks before school starts. This will help everyone (including you) resist the urge to hit snooze and stay in bed on the big day. Don’t forget that kids need more sleep than we do. Elementary students need 9-12 hours of sleep, teens need 8-10 hours of rest every night, and most moms can feel rested after a 7-9 hours snooze.
2. Plan Meals in Advance.
Plan a healthy, easy to prepare breakfast. If you don’t have time to bake biscuits and scrambled eggs, that’s ok! Check out our easy breakfast ideas for busy mornings.
Pack lunch and snacks the night before. Depending on what your kids like, you could even make lunches for the entire first week, or just have your kids purchase school lunch. If you feel stumped on what to pack in their lunchbox, check out our tips and tricks for school lunches.
Decide in advance what your family will have for dinner for the first week or two of school. On those days that you know you won’t be able to bring yourself to cook, find dinner recommendations on our ultimate list of kids eat free in Birmingham and ready-made meals in Birmingham.
3. Pick Out Clothes the Night Before.
Avoid morning wardrobe arguments by choosing everyone’s outfit the night before school starts. For a really smooth week, choose clothing for the entire week. Still haven’t found the perfect first day of school outfit? Shop at our favorite children’s clothing stores in Birmingham and boutiques for tween clothing.
4. Take the First Day of School Picture the Day Before.
My kids have very few pictures from their actual first day of school. It’s just too chaotic and we forget! Put on their first day of school outfit and take your time doing a photoshoot wherever you want. You can even go up to the school grounds and get snapshots outside of the school without worrying about another kid photo-bombing.
5. Keep Your Schedule Light.
The first week or two of school are exhausting for students of all ages. Try not to plan after school activities or extra appointments. Instead, give your family time to get back in a routine.
6. Be Prepared for Moods.
Going back to school can make kids happy, grumpy, excited, sad, nervous, sometimes all at once! Give your kids space and grace to feel their feelings. Be ready with a listening ear, big hug, and their favorite snack when they are ready to talk.
7. Go Outside
Your little ones have just gone from outdoor summer fun all day long to sitting inside most of the day. Although it’s tempting to let them veg out in front of a screen until bed time, squeeze in some outdoor time at your favorite local park right after school to give your kids a burst of energy and a boost in mood.
After you’ve made it through the first week of school, check out our tips on how to make school mornings easier and how to keep school items organized so that every week is low-stress.
