The Parents Guide to Back to School

Brought to you by Maple

Back to school is a big time for everyone. The beauty and fun of summer crashes to a halt quickly. Now, it’s time to find structure once again. If you think we as parents are nervous, imagine how your little ones are feeling!

The best way to fight those nerves and build a sense of confidence (for parents and littles alike) is to get organized. Creating structure will help the entire family feel prepared and ready to take on the school year.

Here’s an 8-step guide for back to school:

1. Establish Those Bedtime Schedules

For many families, summer hours stretch a little later and have more flexibility. That’s all part of the fun of Summer. Remember that it takes time for your children to adjust from those later hours back to earlier wake times. One option is to start bedtime 10 minutes earlier each day for 1-2 weeks, to slowly adjust that internal clock. Which leads to …

2. Start the Routine Early

Changes to routine (like adjusting bedtime) can be difficult for younger children especially. While summer mornings may include slower starts and relaxed play time, school mornings are a bit more chaotic and fast-paced. You can start to establish a routine by talking through a schedule at the beginning of the day and filling your structure with fun early morning pursuits, trips to the park or to the store for school supplies, or kid-led family meals. Also consider mid-day routines that match the school calendar and create a positive association with learning. This might include mid-morning reading followed by a structured lunch and outdoor time.

Maple

All-in-one household management app

Maple is an all-in-one household management app that keeps your home organized and working together. Free for all users, Maple enables families to plan, schedule, share lists, work together, and stay organized from anywhere.

Maple’s mission is to improve the quality of life for families. Managing a household is chaotic, and much of that responsibility often falls on a single primary caregiver. Maple helps families work together through better visibility, communication, accountability, and automation. Maple is the first tech product of its kind that is truly built for home management.

baby crying - shaken baby syndrome prevention

3. School Supplies

One way to build excitement for school is allowing your children to participate in buying and preparing school supplies. From picking out pens, folders, notebooks to adding on a few fun things like stickers and pins, let your children have fun and show their personality with the process. Before setting out to the store, build a shopping list with your child. Asking them to think through what items they may need is a great mental exercise. If money is tight, focus on one or two items that your child will be excited about while keeping it inexpensive, like a pack of pencils with their favorite cartoon characters or unique erasers.

Many towns have backpack drives where they distribute brand new supplies to families that need a little assistance preparing for the school year. Reach out to your school or local Boys and Girls Club, and they should be able connect you to the resources in your area.

4. Mentally Prepare for the School Schedule

Preparing your child for their upcoming school schedule can substantially decrease the jitters. One recommendation is to print out your child’s schedule and post it on the fridge (or other prominent place) a few days or weeks before school starts. Check it throughout the day to compare your activities with what your child may be doing at that time once school begins. Give your child the opportunity to ask questions about what to expect in each block of their schedule, and be comfortable saying that you aren’t sure but will connect with the teacher to find out more.

baby crying - shaken baby syndrome prevention
baby crying - shaken baby syndrome prevention

5. Walk Through the Curriculum

One way to build excitement for school is allowing your children to participate in buying and preparing school supplies. From picking out pens, folders, notebooks to adding on a few fun things like stickers and pins, let your children have fun and show their personality with the process. Before setting out to the store, build a shopping list with your child. Asking them to think through what items they may need is a great mental exercise. If money is tight, focus on one or two items that your child will be excited about while keeping it inexpensive, like a pack of pencils with their favorite cartoon characters or unique erasers.

Many towns have backpack drives where they distribute brand new supplies to families that need a little assistance preparing for the school year. Reach out to your school or local Boys and Girls Club, and they should be able connect you to the resources in your area.

6. Align with Your Partner on Schedule

It’s tough to keep your children on schedule if you’re not aligned as partners. Set aside some time ahead of the school year to sit down with your partner and talk through schedule expectations. From the obvious daily routines, such as drop off and pick up, to upcoming dates for sports and extracurriculars. Both parents should take responsibility for understanding their child’s schedule, rather than relying on one partner (often Mom) to hold all of that information in their mind.

baby crying - shaken baby syndrome prevention
baby crying - shaken baby syndrome prevention

7. Plan for Ways to Engage with your Students’ Learning

Look for ways to plan family activities that fit the curriculum, such as a trip to a local museum, a parent-child hiking trip to study plants and animals, or using fractions to double a pancake recipe. This empowers your child to be the one teaching you, giving them confidence in the subject matter. Alternatively, it will provide a fun, low-pressure environment for you to offer assistance in areas they may still be needing additional support. When your child knows this activity is coming, it gives them something to look forward to to apply their learning in, “the real world.”

8. Send Summer Off with a Bang

The last few weeks of summer are a beautiful thing, use this time to plan a few fun family events. Our family favorite is one last night around the campfire, reminiscing about all of the fun things that we were able to do the past few months. Those are real, powerful memories that come and go far too quickly. Enjoy them!

Maple

All-in-one household management app

Maple is an all-in-one household management app that keeps your home organized and working together. Free for all users, Maple enables families to plan, schedule, share lists, work together, and stay organized from anywhere.

Maple’s mission is to improve the quality of life for families. Managing a household is chaotic, and much of that responsibility often falls on a single primary caregiver. Maple helps families work together through better visibility, communication, accountability, and automation. Maple is the first tech product of its kind that is truly built for home management.

Positive parenting leads to positive futures for generations to come.

American SPCC provides parenting education and support as the most effective way to support families and nurture children. The following resources are made possible through contributions by child and family advocates like you.

Parenting Resource Center

The Parents Guide to Back to School