It can be difficult to think about school while you’re still enjoying summer vacation, but September comes quickly, and being prepared makes all the difference for a successful school year.
Here’s a helpful back-to-school checklist for parents, to take some of the the sting out of prepping for back to school this fall!
1 month before school
- Mark important school dates on your calendar.
- Make sure immunizations are up to date.
- Schedule medical checkup, dental checkup, and vision test for your kids.
- Research extracurricular activities for the year.
- Look for before- and after-school care.
- Coordinate/confirm end date of summer care and start date of school-year before- and after-school care.
- Check the school’s list of supplies your child will need.
- Go through kids’ fall clothing and donate or toss anything kids have outgrown or worn out.
- Start your back-to-school shopping for backpacks, lunch bags, school clothes, and shoes.
- Review the school’s summer learning requirements.
- Find out if the school has an orientation or other program or event for parents.
2–3 weeks before school
- Familiarize yourself with your child’s school dress code, regulations, emergency procedures, and other policies.
- Get organized! Set up a “go” station by the door to get kids ready on time, consider setting up a homework station and creating a shared calendar for the whole family.
- Schedule kids’ haircuts for the week before school.
- Buy school supplies like pencils, pens, crayons, paper.
- Start gradually moving kids back to the school-year bedtime.
- Establish a filing spot for all school notices you receive.
- Set up an inbox/outbox for forms that need to be signed/returned.
1 week before school
- Get back on school-year bedtime.
- Get haircuts.
- Stock up on pantry essentials for lunches and snacks as well as sandwich bags and ice packs.
- Prep lunches, snacks, and quick breakfasts, and some frozen dinners.
- Confirm before- and after-school care and extra-curricular activities for kids.
- Practice getting to school with kids and make sure kids know the pickup and drop-off routine.
- Make sure young kids know how to open all their lunch bags/boxes and food containers on their own.
- Talk with your child about what to expect at school and discuss any concerns s/he may have.
- Make sure your child knows your home address, home phone number, and work phone number.
