Be Prepared: 7 Tips to Beat the Back-to-School Rush
Krystal Clark
| 2 min read
Contrary to popular belief, it’s never too early for back-to-school prep. Both parents and children must adjust to different schedules, teachers and extracurricular activities. In fact, the new year can change the entire dynamic of a home.
Here are seven tips on how to avoid the back-to-school rush:
Here are seven tips on how to avoid the back-to-school rush:
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- Make the Most of Summer: Take a moment to utilize downtime by creating new goals. How can children improve their grades? How can they be more active? How can parents be more engaged with teachers or attend more events? Set mini-goals for each quarter as well as a long-term objective for the year.
- Head to the Doctor: Children should have their annual physical weeks or even months before the new year begins. Most physician forms and immunization requirements can be found on the school’s website. Come to the doctor’s office prepared with necessary documentation and questions about any health concerns.
- Revise the Sleeping Schedule: Cut back on the slumber parties and late-night TV binges. The last two weeks of vacation should be used to implement a new sleeping schedule. This will make the fall transition easier by gradually resetting the child’s internal clock.
- Start Meal Prepping: When you’re in a time crunch, it’s hard to eat healthy. So, it’s important to keep nutritious options ready and available. On the weekend, create a 5-day menu then refrigerate/ freeze items to maintain freshness. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can pop them in the microwave for a convenient meal.
- Create a Family Calendar: Kids have afterschool activities and parents may leave early or stay late for work. Avoid confusion by creating a family planner. Get a large wall calendar and document important dates for rehearsals, games, tests, homework and special assignments.
- Prepare Medical/Health info: Does your child have allergies or another chronic health condition? Do they require medication during school hours? If so, present staff with documentation of instructions, dosage and frequency. They should also have emergency contact information for the doctor and parent/guardian.
- Manage School Contacts: Write down the names, numbers and email addresses of important school personnel. This includes teachers, bus drivers, coaches and office workers. Also, create a cheat sheet that consists of the child’s class schedule, room numbers and locker combinations.
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Photo credit: gpointstudio
