Need help with back to school prep? Grab the free printable back to school challenge filled with tips for getting your kids (and yourself!) ready for the first day of school!
Ah, summer, how I love thee…the relaxed schedules, the sleeping in, fewer extracurricular activities, no rushing out the door in the morning…
Summer seriously is the best. And now it’s almost over! How is it that one day I’m picking my girls up from their last day of school, and the next, we’re rushing through Target, shoving school supplies in the cart before heading over to orientation night?
While some parents may start counting down the days their child goes back to school at the start of summer vacation, one thing we can all (hopefully) agree on is that preparing for back to school is a PROCESS. You can’t just flip a switch and your kids are okay with waking up an hour earlier and having their tablet time restricted. No, no, my friends. That’s a recipe for disaster!
Instead, it’s best to gradually ease everyone into the school year mindset. That’s why I’ve created this 21 Day Challenge for Back to School Prep! Each task helps you and your kids build back those time management habits and develop a positive mindset for the upcoming school year.
Just follow these back to school tips and you’ll be less stressed, more confident, and ready to tackle anything this school year throws at you!
Why You Should Do a Back to School Challenge
Completing a small amount of back to school prep each day has many benefits. Here are just a few:
- It eases kids back into their school routines. While it’s true that humans in general thrive on routines, making a hard switch from summer to school mode can be challenging for almost any child. These back to school tips help you ease back into a more structured daily routine, which studies show can help kids develop time management and attention skills into adulthood.
- It can help reduce kids’ anxiety. A new school year can bring up lots of anxiety in children for many reasons: switching schools, starting Pre-K, the prospect of making new friends, you name it. It’s normal for your child to be anxious, and building in some back to school prep each day gives you time to talk with them about their fears and help them get excited for new experiences.
- You’re less stressed. I will shout this from the rooftops forever and ever – Moms have the most stressful job when it comes to preparing for back to school!!! We have to gather all the school supply lists, do the shopping, take care of the logistics of schedules, and so much more. Thankfully, this back to school prep challenge makes you want to tear your hair out a little less by the time Day 1 rolls around (I hope!).
- It breaks down larger tasks. You’ve probably faced a monumental to do list before and had to fight the desire to either give up and binge Netflix or run for the hills. Getting ready to go back to school is a big deal, even when you’re not the one getting on the bus! This back to school challenge breaks down that long to do list into smaller, more manageable tasks you can complete each day instead of trying to tackle everything the night before.
- It opens the door for meaningful conversations. When you’re not caught up in the crazy rush of trying to prepare for back to school all at once, you’re also able to sit down and have important conversations with your kids. These can include topics like bus safety, how to be safe walking or biking to school, peer pressure, and their own fears and concerns.
21 Ways to Prep for Back to School
Follow these back to school tips to make your transition from poolside to soccer practice as painless as possible!
1. Meal prep some easy breakfasts.
Getting kids dressed and out the door in the morning can often seem like trying to herd cats. So why not reduce your a.m. stress by meal prepping some easy breakfasts? Get ready to go back to school by batching yummy overnight oats, freezing some delicious acai smoothie bowls, or making freezer-friendly muffin mix pancakes you can heat in minutes.
2. Start laying out clothes the night before to get back into the routine.
Another tip for reducing hectic school mornings is to have your child select their outfit the night before (or you can do this for them). That way, they’re not dissolving into tears because their favorite puppy sweater is missing, and it’s 30 seconds before the bus is supposed to arrive. It’s not a pretty situation!
3. Plan some lunch ideas with your kids.
If you have picky eaters who won’t touch a school lunch, your back to school prep challenge should definitely include planning out some lunch ideas. Write down a list of meal ideas that are easy to prepare and that they will actually eat. Depending on the child, that list might be pretty short! But at least you’ll have something to go on when school starts.
For easy school lunch ideas, think about the classic “snack plate dinners”, or lots of healthy finger foods like turkey rolls, baby carrots, apple slices, cheese cubes, etc. Go here for a TON of ideas for kids’ snack plates and grab this cute printable list:
4. Print out each child’s school supply list.
I like to print out each of my kid’s school supply lists a few weeks in advance. This way, I can sort through what we already have and see what I still need to buy. Some teachers send supply lists home with students at the end of the previous school year, or you can find them on your school’s website.
5. Go school supply shopping.
A key part of back to school prep is buying all those markers, glue sticks, and boxes of Kleenex. Back to school shopping can be exciting for your kids and slightly stressful for you, so plan this trip in advance.
If you want to make it extra fun, go out for ice cream afterward or treat your kids to a special lunch that day. I also highly recommend reading through local flyers to find out where the best deals are. Shop smarter, not harder!
6. Create a Ready for School Checklist to make mornings a painless process.
If I had a dime for every time my children forgot something they were supposed to take to school, I’d be a millionaire. Kids are notorious for leaving important items at home (like their winter coats), so get ready to go back to school with a Ready for School Checklist! You have better things to do with your morning than making trips to school because Timmy forgot his lunch box for the third time this week!
7. Sort through kids’ clothes for back to school prep.
Although rotating your kids’ clothes out for the new school year can be as much fun as a root canal, it gives you an excellent idea of whether or not they’re set for a while or down to their last pair of jeans. Sorting through your kids’ clothes also helps them pick out outfits more quickly and reduces clutter. All good things!
8. Set up a “drop zone” in your mudroom or entryway.
Another “must do” on our back to school challenge list is to set up a “drop zone.” This is a designated place where kids can store their backpacks/sports bags to keep everything tidy and out of the way. I’ve seen parents install super cute backpack and coat hooks with each child’s initials, or it can be as simple as a specific bench in your entryway.
9. Start setting the alarms to wake up earlier.
The beauty of summer vacation is sleeping in, and that first day of school can be the worst kind of “wake-up call.” Instead of waiting until the night before to adjust your child’s alarm, get them up 15-20 minutes earlier so they can gradually get there. It will hopefully result in less cranky kids and better First Day of School pics!
10. Schedule last-minute personal care appointments before school begins.
We all know how tricky it can be to fit in appointments while school is in session. That’s why one of our top back to school tips is to schedule those haircuts, eye exams, and physicals before the academic year begins. Setting appointments during non-school hours isn’t always possible, but it’s worth a try to reduce disruptions to your child’s school day.
11. Plan first day of school teacher gifts.
While back to school teacher gifts aren’t a “must,” I’ve always given each of my kids’ teachers something special at the beginning of each school year. Teachers work so hard, and they don’t get nearly as much recognition as they deserve! And you don’t have to be a “crafty” mom to put together something super cute!
Check out my master list of back to school teacher gifts that fit any budget and creativity level!
12. Start a school memory box to store important papers and keepsakes.
Prepare for back to school memories by creating a school memory box! It’s an easy way to store your child’s important papers and keepsakes, and you can find the free printables to make your own school memory box or binder here! You’ll thank the past version of yourself throughout the year when your counters are less cluttered, and everything is in one place!
13. Get ready for the First Day of School pictures.
First Day of School pictures are a tradition in our house, and I love seeing all the cute signs and outfits on social media. You can check off this back to school prep task by helping your child plan what they want to wear on their first day, printing out a cute sign for them to hold, and finding the perfect spot to take their photo!
14. Create an ongoing list of easy weeknight meals.
It doesn’t take long for weeknights to become a hot mess during the school year, especially if your kids are involved in lots of extracurricular activities. If you know you’ll be spending several nights a week at sports practices and games, brainstorm a list of quick and easy weeknight meals for the family. You can also use a weekly meal planner template like this one to reference each day.
15. Email your child’s teacher to establish a connection/communicate any important info.
Many parents wait until school orientation night to meet their child’s teacher, but I always think emailing them a week or so before school starts is a great idea. A friendly, informal email allows you to introduce yourself, offer support, and fill the teacher in on any special information they might need to know about your kiddo (health issues, learning style, etc.). It’s also an excellent way to establish a positive relationship from the beginning!
16. Write your child’s name on their backpack, lunchbox, etc.
Your kid spent hours picking out that specific unicorn lunchbox and purple backpack, and the last thing you want is for those treasures to go home with someone else! Take time to write your child’s name on their supplies, outdoor gear, and anything else they’re taking to school each day. It helps teachers know who things belong to and saves you from spending extra money to replace lost items.
17. Create a master calendar for the whole family.
Trying to keep track of every family member’s appointments, meetings, and life in general can seem like an elaborate game of human chess. It might take a few hours but try to sit down one day and create a master calendar for the entire family. If you want to be extra organized, use different pen or highlighter colors for each person!
If you like seeing the whole year at a glance, create your own super easy DIY large wall calendar!
18. Mark down important school calendar dates in your planner and calendar.
In addition to nailing down sports schedules, theater practices, and everything else your family has in the works, get ready to go back to school by writing important school calendar dates down in your planner and calendar. I’ve been surprised on more than one occasion by my kids coming home early from school, and they even bring home notifications!
19. Organize a homework station for the school year.
Kids thrive on routine and predictability, so take some time to organize a place for them to complete their homework each day. This can be a certain spot at the dining room table, a corner of the family office, or even a desk you set up in their room or playroom. Your child will love having their own space, and it’s an easy way to communicate expectations for where and when they need to complete their work.
20. Start having screen-free time each day.
While it’s easy to slip into watching more TV and tablets during the summer, use this back to school prep challenge as an excuse to scale back on screen time each day. Start getting kids into the after-school mindset by having screen-free time in the afternoon when they will normally be working on homework. Insert learning activities like reading, doing puzzles, or playing board games.
21. Map your route as part of your back to school prep.
Whether your child is just starting school, walking to the bus stop on their own for the first time, or for a hundred other reasons, your back to school prep should include one or two practice runs to their pickup location – or to the school if they’re walking the entire way. As you’re mapping this route together, talk with them about how to be safe along the way.
Free Printable Back to School Prep Challenge
Want to print out the list of tips to prepare for back to school? Just click the link down below to download the free printable 21 Day Back to School Challenge! Hang it on your fridge, and mark off one of the jobs each day.
You can either complete the back to school challenge in order from 1 – 21, or simply select any of the 21 things to do to get ready for back to school each day, and mark that off the list! You’ll be ready to go back to school in no time!
Click HERE for the Free Printable Back to School Prep Challenge!
Other Back to School Ideas
Breeze into back to school with these other super fun ideas!
Free Printable First Day of School Interview for Kids – PreK to 12th Grade!
Whether your child is 5 or 15, these free printable first day of school interview worksheets are a creative way to spend time with your kids and make special memories! They’re also a great keepsake for school memory boxes!
Make a Teacher Survival Kit – Awesome Ideas and FREE Printable Gift Tag!
If you’ve been searching for the ultimate back to school teacher gift, this DIY teacher survival kit is the perfect solution! This post is jam-packed with ideas to create a unique and thoughtful token of your appreciation, and the printable gift tags are super cute!
Hope these back to school preparation tips help you feel a little less stressed about the upcoming school year! Is there anything that you do to prepare for school each year? If so, leave me a comment down below and share your tips!
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