Back to School Made SIMPLE

Ready or not school is right around the corner for many students, young and old! Do you have any back to school traditions or things you do to get ready for the start of the year? We have created a guide to make back to school an easier transition.

Back to School Shopping

Back-to-school shopping is a great way to get kids excited about going back to school. Get them involved in picking out their school supplies (if you haven’t preordered them!). Back-to-school clothes shopping is another great way to get them excited about the upcoming year. If you haven’t started yet you are in luck August 6-8 is a tax-free weekend in Texas and includes many of the items on your back-to-school list! For a full list check out this website. A little tip, stores get very busy this time of year so go early!

Bedtime Routine

Let’s face it bedtime tends to go out the window during the summer, now is a great time to start back into a bedtime routine! Starting a routine a week or so before school starts will make sure that kids aren’t wide awake the night before school. What does your routine look like? If you have smaller kids it means bedtime stories, older children may read to themselves, but whatever you do try to turn off the electronics 30-60 minutes before bed. Electronics too close to bedtime will have kids’ brains still working in overdrive, and may make it harder to relax into a peaceful sleep and sleep is so important for kids to function during school days. If you have a heavy sleeper that has trouble waking up then establishing a routine will help. Another great tool for kids (and adults!) is the Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock. This alarm clock will simulate the rising sun to help wake you in a soothing manner that will help start your day right.

Pick Clothes For The Next Day

School mornings can be chaotic, being prepared will help make the morning run smoother. Have the kids help pick out their clothing for the next day, feeling involved will make them feel in control of a small part of their day, and being comfortable in their clothes will also help them stay focused.

Command Center

Stay organized by creating a command center that the whole family can utilize. Creating a place that everyone can see their schedule and an area that they can place work that has come home will help everyone stay on task and organized. Try color-coding the calendar, having a color for everyone in the family, will take the guesswork out of who needs what. Bless‘er House has some great tips on creating a functioning command center.

Healthy Lunch

Creating a healthy lunch will ensure little brains get the nutrients that they need to think and be creative at school. Bento boxes like this one are great for picky eaters. With lots of compartments, you can make sure there are different choices in little ones’ lunch ensuring that they get the nutrients they need. Aim to include a mix of food groups so that you have whole grains, protein, some dairy, a veggie, a fruit, and food with some healthy fat in it. Celebrating Sweets has wonderful ideas for healthy bento box lunch ideas.