Back to School

Back to School Shopping

One of the most stressful aspects of a new school year is the shopping. School supplies, new school clothes or uniforms, shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes, not to mention haircuts! To make this easier, there are several things you can do:

• Start Supply Shopping Early: If you receive your child's school supply list at the end of the year or with his or her report card, don't wait until the last minute to purchase their supplies. If you don't want to or can't afford to get the supplies all at once, pick up a couple of items each time you head to the grocery store, and you'll have the list covered well before September rolls around.

• Clear Closets and Make Lists: Go through your child's clothing several weeks before school starts and donate or toss items that no longer fit or are too worn to wear. Make a list of items your child needs as well as any wearable clothes that need a match -- a skirt that still fits, but needs a shirt that goes with it, for example. This way, you will avoid overbuying, and you'll have plenty of room in the closet for the new outfits.

• Shop Online: Although you will pay for the shipping costs, many parents are willing to shop online to avoid long lines in the store and digging through endless racks of clothes at the mall. If you decide to do this, it's a good idea to know how a company's sizes run -- if the sizes run big, for example -- so you can order appropriately and avoid the hassle of returns.

• Less is More: You don't necessarily have to buy everything at once. If the supply list requests seven glue sticks for your second-grader, you know he won't be using all seven the first week. You can buy a couple and pick up the rest when you are able.

With school clothes, apply the less is more principle by sticking with a solid stock of basics rather than a bunch of 'popular' clothes. Jeans, khaki pants, solid color polo shirts, nice t-shirts -- all of these things will have a longer shelf life than that pink camouflage skirt and matching shirt set.

You don't have to restrict fad clothing completely; just make sure they have some of the basics in their closet as well.

Bedtimes

Getting settled into a decent bedtime after chasing fireflies and roasting marshmallows all summer can be difficult. Start at least a couple of weeks before school starts, if possible, to get your child used to going to bed at the right time. Have a few 'trial runs' of the morning routine so your son or daughter will be prepared on the first day of school.

Anxiety

Back to school anxiety can hit any age, from preschool to college. To help alleviate this, talk with your son or daughter about what the school day will be like, the different activities s/he will participate in, old friends s/he may see.

Being prepared will also give your child a better sense of security. Try to:

• Pack backpacks and lunches the night before.
• Lay out clothes the night before.
• Make sure his or her room is tidy so it's more relaxing.

If everything is organized and you've discussed things beforehand with your child to help him or her be mentally prepared, the butterflies might be a little less active.

Routines

Children need freedom to explore their worlds, but they need structure as well. According to home organization expert and author Marla Cilley, establishing routines is as necessary for children as it is for adults. A written routine will eventually become second nature according to Cilley, creating more peace and security.

Write up simple morning, after school, and evening routines for your children to help remind them of what they need to do and be prepared for the next day.

If you put the routines on a dry erase board or under a plastic sheet protector, the children can check items off as they are completed, giving a sense of accomplishment and pride. Routines don't need to be elaborate -- a simple morning routine might consist of washing up, getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, making beds, and checking backpacks.

More Resources

For more back to school resources and helpful tips, check out:

• Marla Cilley's back to school tips at www.flylady.net
• Kidshealth.org
• US Government school information portal
• Back to School Safety Checklist