Your Back to School To-Do List

Whether this is your child’s first year of school or if you have been down this road before, the start of a new academic year is always challenging. There are so many things to do, and important steps that are easy to forget. The following is a helpful back to school to do list to help take the guesswork out to make a smoother transition.

Back to School To-Do List 

• Contact your child’s school to prepare for enrollment
• Find out what records you may need to submit (vaccinations, proof of residence, etc.)
• Schedule any necessary doctor’s appointments
• Complete emergency contact forms and authorized pickup information
• Sort out carpooling schedules and introduce your kid to anyone your son or daughter will be riding with ahead of time.
• Arrange after school childcare
• Determine a plan for coverage if your child gets sick. Decide who will pick up your son or daughter and babysit until you can get home.

Establish Easier School Day Routines

• Discuss with your child about safety rules, walking, biking and while riding a bus. Remind kids to stay on the designated cross walks and always use safe paths.
• Plan healthy lunch options and snack items, and pack ahead.
• Teach kids how to make good food choices at school.
• Set rules for extracurricular activities after homework and household chores are completed.
• Designate an area in the home for kids to place school items like books, backpacks or papers.
• Establish a set time for bed and hold to it; a calming nighttime ritual may include a warm bath, reading together and soft music.
• Reduce morning distractions by keeping the television off before school.

Keep the Communication Lines Open

• Have a talk with your child about how your son or daughter feel about starting the new school year.
• Be sure he or she has committed your home phone number and address to memory.
• Teach your child healthy hygiene practices. Show him or her how to help control the spread of germs by sneezing or coughing into an elbow or tissue. Also, talk about proper hand washing and which toys or other items are okay to share.
• Remind your child about the rules of dealing with strangers and never getting into other people’s cars without a parent’s consent.
• Discuss being kind and courteous to others, making new friends and how to deal with a bully.

Getting School Supplies

Now for the easy part: buying basic back to school supplies for the first day such as pencils, an eraser, crayons, paper, a new book bag, and a lunch box. Select fashionable, yet affordable school clothes that are easy to mix and match. Be sure to include athletic wear for gym day, and if necessary, a rain jacket and a coat.