Ways to Get Your Kids in Gear for Back to School

To avoid the chaos that comes with the start of a new school year start now by introducing your children to their new routines. Going to a new school even if its in the same town can be tough for little ones so take them to the school a few days before hand. Explain to them where they will be dropped off and picked up. If possible try to set up a walk through with the teacher or principal tour the cafeteria, gym, and classrooms; that way their new surroundings become more familiar when it comes time to start school.

Purchase some work books and games that are geared to your childs grade use them to refresh ideas that they learned last year so they are fresh in their minds when it comes time to reapply them in school.

Set the alarms! Thats right get them into a routine that mimics the one during school. Get them to bed at the same times and up at the same time as they would if they were going to have a day at school. That way their clocks reset and they will be more energized those first few mornings because it has become part of their regular day. It is also a good way for you to judge how much time it will take to get everyone up and out the door.

Take them back to school shopping. Now I don’t mean a marathon day of running all over town that will ultimately end in pure frustration, do it a little at a time. One day look for lunch boxes, another day for book bags and folders, etc.etc. This will excite them for a new school year especially because they are taking an active role in picking out all of there school supplies. Let them pick out their own cloths. Try going to stores like TJ Maxx or Burlington Coat Factory because they offer great designer cloths for kids at very very affordable prices. By letting them pick out their cloths they will feel more in control of the whole back to school experience and will feel more confident in their new digs on the first day making it easier to make new friends.

Make a calendar. Get some poster board and make a giant calendar. Not only is it a great art project to take up some of the last few dog days of summer but then your kids can get a visual idea of what their days and weeks will be like. Mark what days they will have gym or art, band or sports. By understanding exactly what days they have what it will make it easier for them to take responsibility for brining what they need.