5 Stress-Free Tips To Prep Your Family For Back-To-School

For many parents, August signals the start of back-to-school preparations. Buying school supplies, getting your kids to finish their summer packets, figuring out schedules – there’s a lot to get done. It can be stressful and overwhelming, for you and your children.

It doesn’t need to be overwhelming though. You can save time, energy, and stress by preparing strategically. Establishing routines, setting expectations, and nurturing specific habits will set your family up for success in September. We’ve put together the following tips to help you stay stress-free and ready for the school year.

As you start to think about September, reflect on how the previous school year went. Identify what caused the most stress. Was it getting ready in the mornings? Making it to school on time? Getting homework done each evening? Dr. Michele Borba, a parenting expert and author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, recommends including your children in this conversation. Brainstorm a solution together and make a family commitment to use it. Your children’s involvement will make them more motivated to prevent last year’s problem.

Routines are one of the best ways to minimize school-related stress. Children thrive on consistency and predictability. There’s comfort in knowing what to expect and what is expected of them. They respond better, the day flows more smoothly, and you are less stressed.

To start the school year off right, establish routines for important daily activities. Routines should be specific, with step-by-step instructions for how things should be done. Start with one routine at a time, ideally a morning routine. Beginning your day calmly increases the chances of the rest of the day passing smoothly. Dr. Jazmine, the Mom Psychologist, offers suggestions such as talking about what you’re looking forward to that day, taking a few minutes to play before or after breakfast, or repeating affirmations while getting ready.

It’s normal for children’s sleep routines to relax during the summer; their schedules are looser. The problem is getting them back on a school schedule. It isn’t always easy, but it’s essential. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), healthy sleep habits improve academic performance, behavior, memory, and mental health. Incorporate the following AAP suggestions a few weeks before school starts:

• Set a good example by making sleep a priority for everyone, including yourself.
• Establish a bedtime routine for younger children and stick to it every day.
• Turn off all screens at least an hour before bedtime.
• Create a soothing sleep environment. Consider the lighting, temperature, bed, and noise level. 

Homework is unavoidable but also the bane of many parents’ and children’s existence. It’s often something to be avoided, rushed through, or argued about. To save yourself and your children the headache of late nights, rushing, and struggling to concentrate because everyone is tired, establish a homework routine in August. 

A few weeks before school starts, begin setting aside time each afternoon for skills practice. It can be 30 minutes of reading, completing a few math problems, playing a spelling game, etc. The summer practice also helps prevent summer slide. Parenting coach Amy McCready recommends incorporating the “When-Then” routine as part of an effective homework schedule. The routine helps prevent distractions from pulling your child’s attention away from their homework.

Figuring out what to make for dinner is stressful when you have a hectic weekly schedule. Drop-off, pick-up, after-school activities, homework, and your adult responsibilities can leave little time for dinner planning. Save time and reduce stress by meal prepping. 

There are different ways to meal prep but the goal is the same: to save you time and preserve your peace. It’s helpful to include your family to decrease the frequency of the “I don’t want to eat this” battle. You can designate dinner nights (Taco Tuesdays, Pizza Fridays), create a monthly calendar with favorite recipes, or plan meals one week at a time. Whichever method you choose, organize your time by choosing one day for shopping and prepping.