How to Prepare for Back to School: 8 Practical Tips for Parents
Prepare for back to school with practical tips for establishing routines, organizing supplies, easing first-day jitters, and planning ahead.
“What should I prepare for the first day of school?”
Let’s jump in and answer the most important question first: “What should I prepare for the first day of school?” If you’re wondering what to do before the first day of school, these are the eight things I’d prioritize first:
- Establish Routines
- Set a bedtime routine
- Lay out your kids’ clothes
- Set a morning routine
- Establish device-free time
- Get Supplies
- Shop for back-to-school supplies
- Organize and label supplies
- Pack backpack and supplies
- Comfort & Nourish
- Talk to your kids about school
- Pack a comfort item
- Plan a healthy breakfast
- Pack nutritious snacks and lunch
- Make the first day special!
Like most things, preparing for back to school is a lot smoother with a plan in place. As I’m getting my own daughter ready for the new school year, I’ve been reminded that it’s rarely one big task that feels overwhelming. It’s the dozens of little things that sneak up on you during the last few weeks before school starts.
In this article I’ll share eight practical tips to help you tackle everything on the list and start the year off smoothly.
1) Get your back-to-school plan on paper
Getting ready for the new school year can be quite the task, so treat it like any other big project and plan ahead. This not only helps you figure out what needs to be done, but also when you should start tackling it.
Start planning as early as is convenient. Although you have the whole summer to get things done, you won’t want to find yourself rushing around at the last minute.
Stay organized and on track by laying out your plan where you can see it. Write your tasks out in your personal planner, the family whiteboard or even just print out a simple back-to-school checklist.
2) Adjust to new routines to prepare for back to school
After a hopefully relaxing and enjoyable summer, help the kids transition back into the regular school day schedule a few weeks before the first day of school. You can start by mapping out their daily routines.
Plan out a morning routine by asking yourself what you want it to look like. What do you need to get done and how much time do you need to make it out the door without rushing?
Do the same for an afternoon and bedtime routine. And don’t forget to set aside some device-free time after school or before dinner, whatever works best for your schedule. This will help the kids focus on their homework. I’ve also found it’s easier to start shifting bedtime about 15–20 minutes earlier each night, instead of trying to switch back to a school schedule all at once.
Organize your routines in your planner or on the family whiteboard and start practicing them 1-2 weeks before school starts so the kids have time to adjust.
3) Start shopping for school supplies early
Whether you love shopping for school supplies or think of it as a chore, start shopping as early as possible. Not only does it give you time to comparison-shop for the best deals, but it also helps you avoid the last-minute crush at stores.
While teachers have their own specific lists you might not receive until later in the summer, you can start with the essentials. If you see a sale on pens, pencils or binders, for example, go ahead and stock up.
One thing that’s helped me this year is keeping everything in one “back-to-school” basket while we shop. As supplies come home, they go into one place until it’s time to label everything and pack the backpack. It keeps notebooks, folders, and other supplies from disappearing around the house before it’s time to pack everything.
4) Do some fun stuff to prepare for back to school
As much as parents look forward to the new school year, kids don’t often feel the same. Take the time to talk with them to help ease their butterflies about starting school or a new grade.
Doing some fun activities or tasks while preparing for back to school is a perfect way to start a conversation about school. Here are some great ways to get the ball rolling:
- Go on an “adventure” to visit the school and practice drop off/pickup, let them pick the music in the car or some other special treat
- Help them pick out a school-appropriate comfort item they can take to school with them
- Make DIY stickers & decals together for decorating school supplies
- Let them pick out a special backpack or lunch box that will get them excited to show off to their friends
- If your kid loves clothes, set up a back-to-school fashion show modeling their new or favorite looks
5) Organize and label school supplies before the first day
When it comes to kids and their belongings, it’s never a bad idea to keep things organized. Start by labeling everything. This will make things easier for you, your kids and their teachers.
Labeling supplies can lessen the risk of them getting lost or taken by mistake, which saves you the time and money from having to replace them. Make sure you use the right school ID label for each item.
The items I make sure to label first are the ones most likely to get mixed up at school: water bottles, lunch containers, jackets, sweatshirts, and pencil boxes. Those seem to travel the fastest between classrooms, cafeterias, and lost and found.
You can also upgrade to more durable labels that are self-laminated or waterproof for things like water bottles, devices or anything that gets used frequently. They’re also great for flu season to wipe down occasionally.
Once everything is labeled, finish with packing up all the supplies in the backpack. Having everything good to go beforehand is just one less thing to worry about the night before.
6) Meal prep breakfast and packed lunches
Meal prepping not only saves you time and worry, especially in the morning when there’s so much to do, it also helps the family stay healthy and keep on budget. It’s a win-win.
Consider preparing the whole week’s meals over the weekend. Cook meals that are good for you and that keep well in the fridge. And don’t forget to label lunches for allergies and dietary restrictions if necessary.
7) Organize your kids’ closets for back to school
Another good idea to help ease back into the school year is to organize your kids’ clothes. Start by going through what they have, then think about what they might need and go from there.
Purge any worn out, unused or outgrown clothes. If they’re still in good condition, set them aside as hand-me-downs and pack them away with any seasonal clothes the kids can wear later. Replace or stock up on any clothing they’re missing.
Next, store socks, undies and other accessories in convenient bins so little hands have easy access when getting dressed. Don’t forget to label your bins for quick and easy referencing.
Hang or place any new or favorite clothes at the front of the closet so they are easy to see and grab. Get more organization ideas for kids’ clothes and experiment to find the right ones for you.
8) Plan a fun family activity for the first day
After all the preparation and planning, you and the kids deserve some positive reinforcement. Go ahead and make plans to do something fun after the first day of school.
One thing we’ve started doing in our family is making the first day feel like something to celebrate instead of something to worry about. Whether it’s stopping by the ice cream shop or sharing an after-school snack at the park on the way home, it gives everyone something to look forward to after a busy day.
Treat the family to pizza night, movies and popcorn, a round of mini-golf or stay in for a night of board games or other fun family activities. Anything special that will help them associate school with a happy memory.
Common back-to-school mistakes to avoid
As back-to-school season rolls around each year, these are the small things I’ve found make the biggest difference:
- Leaving everything for the night before: Packing backpacks and laying out clothes ahead of time helps the first morning feel much less rushed.
- Waiting until the last weekend to shop: Give yourself time to compare prices and avoid sold-out supplies.
- Trying to change routines overnight: Ease into earlier bedtimes and morning routines a week or two before school starts.
- Forgetting to label everyday essentials: Water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets, and pencil cases are the items most likely to get mixed up.
Start the school year off with confidence
After checking off everything on my own back-to-school list this year, one thing really stood out to me: it’s the small tasks you complete ahead of time that make the biggest difference. Whether it’s packing backpacks, labeling supplies, or planning a fun first-day tradition, a little preparation now helps the whole family start the school year feeling more relaxed.
That also means more time to enjoy the last few days of summer together before the busy school year begins.
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